If you’ve been investing in real estate—or thinking about it—you’ve probably asked yourself a question that many high-income earners face: “How can I use real estate to leave my job without managing properties for the next 10 years?”

This is a real challenge for busy professionals who already earn a good living but want more control over their time. You may have read Rich Dad Poor Dad, done a few flips, or bought a rental or two. 

But something still doesn’t feel scalable. You’re working hard, but financial freedom feels far away. That’s exactly what I faced, and in this post, I’ll walk you through what I discovered—what really made the difference—and how you can use it to reach your goals faster.

Your Real Estate Is Moving Too Slowly

Many investors start with single-family homes—either flipping them or renting them out. The strategy makes sense. The entry point feels manageable, and you can earn good money along the way.

But after doing several deals, a pattern starts to emerge. Flipping takes time. Each project demands your attention and involvement, and you only get paid when the property sells. Rentals provide monthly cash flow, but if each one nets just $200 per month, you’d need around 50 of them to replace a $10,000 monthly income. That doesn’t include repairs, vacancies, or tenant issues.

At some point, you realize that while real estate is powerful, the way you’re using it won’t get you to freedom quickly unless you manage a large portfolio. That can take a decade or more. So, what’s the alternative?

How One Painful Apartment Deal Opened the Door to Monthly Passive Income

I started my journey with a software job I didn’t hate, but didn’t want to keep for 30 more years. I got into house flipping and eventually completed over 30 deals in three years. It was a big operation—and it wasn’t passive.

Eventually, I bought a 12-unit apartment building. The first year and a half was tough, but once it stabilized, it started generating $1,500 a month in cash flow. That was the first time I saw what steady, passive income from one property could really look like.

That experience changed how I thought about financial freedom. I realized I didn’t need to spend years building up a massive portfolio. I just needed to understand how to make apartment investing work.

The Real Estate Strategy Most People Overlook

When most people think about investing in apartments, they imagine it’s something they can “graduate” into after they build enough experience and save enough money. But that approach takes years—and for many, it delays the freedom they’re working so hard for.

The truth is, you don’t have to wait.

Even if you’ve never bought an apartment building before, you can learn how to get started within 30 to 60 days. It begins with understanding two key ideas:

1. You can build credibility fast by leveraging the track record of your team.

You just need a team that brings the experience. For example, if your property manager has managed 5,000 units, your lender has originated a billion dollars in loans, and your attorney specializes in SEC law, then your team has credibility. When a broker asks about your experience, you can talk about the strength of your team.

2. You can learn to raise money in 30-60 days.

Many people believe you need to use your own money to get started. But what actually gets you into your first deal is knowing how to speak with investors. You can learn what to say, how to build trust, and where to find investors—sometimes in less than a month. Once you know how to raise capital, you don’t have to wait until you save enough to invest.

This approach—building a strong team and raising money the right way—is what makes apartment investing more accessible than most people think. It’s not about managing a giant portfolio or spending a decade doing deals. It’s about taking smart, focused steps now that can move you toward financial freedom faster.

3 Clear Steps to Start Escaping the Rat Race Now

If you want to leave your job through real estate but don’t want to wait ten years or manage dozens of properties, apartment investing may offer a more direct path. Here are a few simple steps to explore:

• Learn about multifamily investing. Understand the basics so you can speak confidently with brokers and investors.
  
• Build a team. Partner with professionals who already have experience. Their track record becomes part of yours.
  
• Practice raising capital. Talk to people you know. Share what you’re working on. Focus on building relationships first.
  

With the right knowledge and support, you can begin making offers and raising money within a few months—even if you’re starting fresh.

In my full video on this topic on YouTube, I walk through each of these steps and everything else in more detail. I also share stories from my journey. 

👉 Click here to watch the full video on YouTube.

To your success,

Michael Blank