How Smart Investors Make Money Outside Their Rentals | Real Estate Investing Canada | Wayne Hillier

May 13, 2026

Real estate investing builds wealth, but rental property cash flow usually takes time.

In this episode, Wayne and Gabby talk about how smart investors can make money outside of their rental properties while still building long-term wealth through real estate.

Wayne explains why relying only on rental property cash flow in the early years can create unrealistic expectations. Rental properties are powerful wealth-building tools, but it can take years for cash flow, appreciation, mortgage paydown, and refinancing to create true financial freedom.

That does not mean investors need to stay stuck in jobs they hate forever.

This episode breaks down different ways real estate investors can create active income within the real estate industry, including becoming a Realtor, mortgage broker, photographer, stager, contractor, wholesaler, fix and flipper, or building a service-based business that supports other investors.

Wayne also shares a real example from his own portfolio, where a joint venture property purchased for approximately $179,000 appraised at $240,000 three years later, creating an opportunity to refinance, return the partner’s original capital, and roll the equity into another property.

If you are building a rental portfolio but want more income, more flexibility, or a faster way to reduce reliance on your job, this episode will help you think about active income strategies that can support your real estate investing journey.

---

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why rental property cash flow usually takes time to become meaningful
• Why investors should not rely only on early-stage rental income
• How active income can support your real estate investing journey
• Why real estate investing is a long-term wealth-building strategy
• How Wayne and Gabby think about combining active income with rental properties
• Why becoming a Realtor can complement your investing business
• How mortgage brokering, photography, staging, and contracting can fit into the real estate space
• Why wholesaling can create active income, but requires consistency and a real business system
• Why fix and flips can be profitable, but also carry significant risk
• How Wayne thinks about spotting real estate trends and future opportunities
• A real refinance example from Wayne and Gabby’s own joint venture portfolio
• Why buying the right asset class matters when building long-term wealth
• Why active income can give investors more flexibility while their rental portfolio compounds

---

About Your Hosts

Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and real estate investing coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Through their REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth using rental properties, BRRRRs, flips, joint ventures, wholesaling, seller financing, rent-to-own, and other creative real estate strategies.

The Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show is a daily podcast focused on helping Canadian investors build cash flow, scale their portfolios, and invest with confidence.

---

Resources & Contact

Learn about the REI Masters Mentorship Program:
www.reimasters.ca

Bookkeeping & tax help for real estate investors:
www.finngo.com/rei

Get Wayne’s book:
The 5% Rule™ – A Real Estate Cash Flow Test for Canadian Investors
https://a.co/d/jdZaBXM

Submit a question or connect with us:
[e-mail]

---

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor
calvinrealty.ca

Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – For Investors, By Investors
www.finngo.com/rei

Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group
[e-mail]