Active real estate investing involves planning, building, maintaining, renting, and flipping properties. This is where, as an investor, you get involved in nearly all the activities and management of a property you’ve put your money into. With passive real estate investing, you intentionally take a backseat and pick investments that provide income but require little effort to manage or maintain. Common strategies include hiring a property manager for rental properties, investing in REITs or mutual funds, or becoming a stakeholder in a crowdfunded project or syndication.