Christian OsgoodCEO, Multifamily Strategy · CEO at Multifamily Strategy

What NO ONE tells you about PASSIVE income

7 Nov 2025 · 1 min

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In this interview segment, the host asks Dion—who calls himself the "lazy investor" and authored the book Financial Freedom for the Lazy Person—how much upfront work is required before his rental portfolio can feel truly passive. Dion explains that while the IRS classifies rental income as "passive" and many people imagine a hands‑off, "iron‑lung" cash flow, the reality is different. Managing existing rentals may only demand a few hours per week, but acquiring those properties is a labor‑intensive process that can consume five to ten years of constant effort. He describes the daily grind of scouting deals, making offers, touring properties, networking with other investors, and juggling this work alongside a regular job. The segment’s purpose is to debunk the myth of instant passive income from rentals and to highlight the long‑term, front‑end commitment required to become a "lazy" landlord.

Chapters

Dion, you're retired on not that many rentals, so you call yourself the lazy investor. But how much work did it take you on the front end before you got to be the lazy investor?
So my book, which is available on Amazon, Financial Freedom for the Lazy Person. Fantastic book. I brand myself the lazy person. Thank you. People want passive income. The IRS calls it passive income. So the category of owning rentals is called passive income. They want iron lung passive income. They can lay down, don't have to breathe for themselves. And money comes in. That's not what owning rentals is. Owning rentals is very close to passive. Couple hours a month, couple hours a week. Acquiring rentals is life-consuming for 5 to 10 years. Every second you're not at work, or if you're at work and you have the ability, you're checking deals, you're making offers, you're touring properties, you're networking and connecting with other investors.