Episode Overview

Podcast: Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada
Episode: 811: This is Why Smart Agents Need Multiple Streams
Air Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Tristan Ahumada

Main Theme:
Tristan Ahumada emphasizes the necessity for real estate agents to create multiple streams of income—mainly through real estate-adjacent side hustles that both diversify earnings and support an agent’s core business. He presents a focused list of 12 possible income streams specifically designed with real estate agents’ strengths and networks in mind.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Multiple Streams Matter

• [00:04] Tristan opens with a reality check:
  “If you're a real estate agent and you're only making money when you close a deal, well, I know some of you are worried about that...The smartest agents out there that are winning right now have multiple streams of income, and it's called ancillary.”
• Large brokerages and platforms (e.g., Zillow) use ancillary models—agents should too.
• Choosing the right “side hustle” can reinforce and compound success in an agent’s real estate business, not distract from it.

The 12 Income Streams for Agents

1. Content Creation & Brand Monetization

• [01:41] Monetize your audience through YouTube, sponsored posts, or newsletters.
• Quote: "Even a local newsletter with 2,000 engaged homeowners is gold to a roofer or a kitchen remodeler who wants access to this audience." [01:52]

2. Coaching and Mentorship

• [02:15] Agents with moderate experience (30+ deals) can coach newcomers.
• “Five agents paying you $500 a month…it’s $30,000 a year.” [02:25]
• Focus on helping others, not exploiting.

3. Referral Only Network

• [03:01] Capture relocation or out-of-area business by referring leads for a fee (commonly 25%).
• “Some agents build six figures a year purely on referrals from this.” [03:18]

4. Property Management

• [03:38] Manage rentals for investors; charge 8–10% of rent.
• Recurring revenue example: 10 units at $3,000/month generates $36,000/year. [03:56]
• “One of the only side hustles that creates true monthly recurring income.” [04:07]
• Anecdote about a friend: grew her side hustle to managing 350 doors.

5. Real Estate Investing: House Hacking & BRRRR

• [04:33] Leverage access to deals; partner with investors to split equity.
• Wholesale property assignment fees can reach $5,000–$25,000 per deal.

6. Notary and Loan Signing Agent

• [05:12] Get notary commission, do mobile signings for $75–$200/appointment.
• Uses existing knowledge of real estate documents; flexible with your schedule.

7. Home Staging Consulting

• [05:49] Turn seller advice into a paid coordination service.
• Potential for listing referrals and networking with other agents.

8. Real Estate Photography and Media

• [06:27] Offer photo/video/drone/social content to agents lacking marketing skills.
• “Three listings for $500 each…that’s $1,500 bucks on a weekend.” [06:44]

9. Short Term Rental Management

• [07:06] Like property management but higher revenue (15–25% of bookings).
• “One high performing short term rental can net you $1,000 a month or more.” [07:17]

10. Paid Speaking and Workshops

• [07:37] Title companies, lenders, boards often pay for lunch-&-learns or CE talks.
• Pays $500–$1,000 per talk; boosts authority and generates referrals.

11. Transaction Coordinating

• [08:27] Detail-oriented agents can manage transactions for others ($350–$500 per file).
• Can scale by building a small team; watch out for time management challenges.

12. AI Setup and Automation Consulting

• [09:11] Help agents implement CRMs, automations, lead scoring using AI.
• Charge for setup and monthly retainers; “The demand for this is growing.” [09:25]

Noteworthy Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The best side hustles for agents aren't random. They compound back into your main business. Every single one of these either builds your brand, deepens your relationships, creates recurring income, or gives you an unfair advantage in your real estate career.” [09:49]
• “Pick one, maybe two, match it to your strengths and go deep. Don't try to do five of these at once because you'll end up doing none.” [10:12]

Actionable Advice

• Choose just one or two side hustles that match your interests and strengths.
• Each of these streams is designed to “compound” value—they create synergies rather than distractions.
• Don’t attempt to do all at once; focus and scale up as success and bandwidth allow.

Episode Takeaway

Tristan Ahumada's core message:
Smart agents build resilient, scalable, and synergistic businesses by supplementing sales commissions with well-chosen, real estate-adjacent income streams. Start with one, master it, and let your side hustle fuel—not distract from—your real estate career.