You have to have several units for rent in order for it to be lucrative. Very few people make it their career. You have to own hundreds of units in order to have it be your profession.Lets say you buy and rent out a house at cost. After 10 years, you have earned about half the value of the house but havent seen a dime of it.If you own a 3 bedroom house valued at 150,000, your total costs will be, lets say, 1000 a month. You can easily rent out a 3 bed for 1500 a month before utilities if the home is in a good area. Close to a University is ideal. The circumstances are very slim in as far as profit margin and margin of error in order to turn a profit, but its doable. Ive met many people who aren't out to make a living from rental units. Rather it is their nestegg for retirement. In 20 years, you can get the property paid off. So now all of the money you rent it out for is going in your pocket. 1500 a month when you have no other bills as an elderly person is a livable wage along with social security.Maybe the person invested in 3 units, which pay themselves off in 20 years. That would make it 4500 a month for retirement.Anyone ive ever met that rents out properties can do most if not all of the upkeep and repairs. You are throwing money out of the window if you dont.