Five Strategies, One Question: Which One Works for You?
Every real estate investing strategies compared article tells you "it depends." That's not helpful.
Here's what is helpful: a side-by-side comparison with real numbers for capital required, realistic returns, time commitment, and risk level. No hype. No "zero money down" nonsense.
Analyze any deal — any strategy — for real returns in 30 seconds.
Analyze your first deal free Free preview · No signup · Any US propertyThe Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | Buy & Hold | House Hacking | House Flipping | STR (Airbnb) | Rental Arbitrage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min. Capital | $50K–$80K | $12K–$20K | $80K–$150K | $50K–$80K | $8K–$14K |
| Down Payment | 20–25% | 3.5% (FHA) | Cash or hard money | 20–25% | Security deposit + furniture |
| Annual Return | 15–25% | 50–200%* | 20–50% per deal | 20–40% | 15–30% |
| Cash Flow | $200–$600/unit/mo | Live free + $100–$300 | Lump sum at sale | $500–$2,000/mo | $500–$2,000/mo |
| Time Required | Low (5hr/mo) | Medium (10hr/mo) | High (20+hr/wk) | High (15hr/wk) | Medium (10hr/wk) |
| Risk Level | Low | Low | High | Medium | Medium–High |
| Skill Level | Beginner | Beginner | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Passive? | Mostly yes | No | No | No | No |
*House hacking returns include eliminated housing costs.
What the Numbers Mean
Buy & Hold — The foundation. Purchase a property, rent it on a 12-month lease, hold for appreciation + cash flow + loan paydown. Lowest effort, most predictable returns.
House Hacking — The entry point. Buy a 2–4 unit property with FHA (3.5% down), live in one unit, rent the others. Your "return" includes eliminating your housing cost ($1,000–$2,000/month value). See the full guide.
House Flipping — The high-risk, high-reward play. Buy below market, renovate, sell for profit. One bad deal can wipe out your capital. Use the flip deal analyzer to run numbers before you bid.
STR (Airbnb) — The revenue maximizer. Rent nightly/weekly instead of monthly. Revenue runs 30–80% higher than LTR, but requires active management and faces rising regulation. Check the STR market guide and compliance guide before committing.
Rental Arbitrage — The low-capital play. Rent a property, sublet it on Airbnb. Works only with landlord consent and in regulation-friendly cities. Most YouTube content oversells the returns. Read the honest guide.
"Started house hacking, then bought two buy-and-hold rentals, then tried one flip. The flip made $35K but was way more stress than the rentals. Now I stick to buy-and-hold and sleep well."
→ Read our financial metrics guide and deal analysis framework to evaluate any strategy.