No startup, no office: How friends claim to make Rs 5 lakh in real estate

While many people looking for a side income are turning to online businesses, content creation and startups, one X user has highlighted a more traditional business model that he claims some of his friends are doing part-time.

The business is real estate freelancing, where individuals work with builders, find potential property buyers and earn a commission when deals are closed.

An X user, Ankit Pandey, claimed that some of his friends are making around Rs 5 lakh a month through the model, which he described as requiring no startup, office or employees and almost zero investment.

HOW DOES REAL ESTATE FREELANCING WORK?

According to Pandey, the first step is to approach builders in your city and join their channel partner programmes.

He suggested identifying around 10 to 15 builders and learning about their projects in detail. This includes understanding property prices, payment plans and possession dates.

Once the freelancer has information about multiple projects, the next step is to find potential buyers and connect them with suitable properties.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND BUYERS?

Finding buyers is at the heart of the business.

Pandey suggested using platforms such as Instagram, X, Facebook and WhatsApp to reach potential customers. Personal networks, including friends and colleagues, can also be used to generate leads.

THE RS 50 LAKH FLAT MATH

Pandey used a Rs 50 lakh flat to explain the potential earnings.

According to his example, if a builder pays a 3% commission on a Rs 50 lakh property, the commission would work out to Rs 1.5 lakh.

That means:

1 flat = Rs 1.5 lakh commission

3 flats = Rs 4.5 lakh commission

4 flats = Rs 6 lakh commission

However, the 3% figure used in the post is only an example. Commission rates can vary depending on the developer, project and agreement.

NO PRODUCT, INVENTORY OR FUNDING

One of the reasons Pandey describes the model as a low-investment business is that freelancers do not have to manufacture or stock products.

Instead, their main role is to generate leads, understand projects, build relationships with prospective buyers and help close property deals.

The model therefore relies more on networking, sales and relationship-building than on owning a physical product or maintaining inventory.

THE REAL CHALLENGE IS FINDING CUSTOMERS

While the commission calculation may look straightforward, making consistent money from real estate is not necessarily easy.

Several users responding to Pandey's post pointed out that finding customers and closing deals can be difficult. One user said there is a risk involved, while another argued that the commission may be difficult to recover because closing property deals can take considerable effort.

Another user shared the experience of his uncle, who has reportedly been in the business for three decades. According to the user's account, his uncle sometimes sells five to seven houses in a month, but at other times goes four to six months without selling a single house.

RS 5 LAKH A MONTH IS NOT GUARANTEED

The Rs 5 lakh figure comes from Pandey's account of what some of his friends reportedly earn. It should therefore not be treated as a guaranteed income from real estate freelancing.

Actual earnings would depend on factors such as the number of leads generated, property prices, commission structures, the builder's terms and, most importantly, how many deals are successfully closed.

For someone considering the model, the biggest requirement may not be money but the ability to find genuine buyers and convert those leads into completed transactions.

WHY THIS ‘BORING’ BUSINESS IS GETTING ATTENTION

The appeal of the idea lies in its simplicity.

Instead of building a startup, hiring a team or investing in inventory, the model focuses on connecting two sides of an existing market: builders looking for buyers and buyers looking for property.

But as the reactions to the post suggest, the business may look simple on paper while being considerably harder in practice.

Pandey's post has nevertheless sparked interest because it highlights an unconventional side-income opportunity in an industry that has existed long before the latest wave of online businesses.

As his post suggests, sometimes the most “boring” businesses can have some of the most interesting numbers.

(Disclaimer: This story is based on a social media post. The details, including figures, background, and outcomes, have not been independently verified by India Today. The article is intended for informational purposes only, and readers are advised to exercise their own discretion before drawing conclusions or making decisions based on the content.)