Becoming an accidental landlord could just be the launching point you needed to start building your real estate investment portfolio, but making the switch can feel quite overwhelming. 

In 2025, we are seeing an increase in accidental landlords as more companies and the federal government implement “return to office” demands. In 2020, there was a movement where people moved from the big cities to larger homes in the countryside. 

As they are called back to work, they must relocate back to the city, leaving them to sell the homes they purchased in the last few years. However, according to Business Insider, 3-8% of homeowners who put their homes on the market ended up becoming accidental landlords and instead renting out the property. 

In this blog post, we’re exploring how accidental landlords can become intentional real estate investors and seize this lucrative opportunity. 

What is an Accidental Landlord?

An accidental landlord is a homeowner who ends up renting their property to tenants. There are a few instances where a property owner becomes an accidental landlord:

• Inherited Property – Property is inherited and rented to tenants instead of being sold. 

• Job Relocation – If a property owner must relocate due to work or being in the military before they can sell their home, they may choose to rent it to pay the mortgage.

• Unexpected Life Changes – Major life events that require downsizing or upsizing, and instead of selling the current property, the owners choose to rent it.

• Aging Family Members – When older family members cannot care for themselves at home, children may decide to move them into their own home or a care facility while renting their parents’ house for extra income to support them. 

Becoming an accidental landlord may feel like a burden because it comes with unexpected responsibilities, but it could be the starting point for generating a passive stream of income and wealth. 

How to Shift from Accidental Landlord to Real Estate Investor

As an accidental landlord, the hard part is already done! Now it’s time to build your real estate investment portfolio and make savvy financial decisions. 

Shift Your Mindset

When you become an accidental landlord, your mindset is usually focused on survival. You’ve usually chosen to rent out a property to avoid paying the mortgage or selling it in a not-so-favorable market. 

Now it’s time to shift your mindset from survival to intentional. It’s time to think like a real estate investor! See properties as income-generating opportunities to earn monthly income and build equity. 

Educate Yourself About Real Estate

While you may have been thrown into the role of being a landlord, it’s essential to learn about the world of real estate investing. The industry has so many opportunities, but just as many laws and regulations to match it. 

Start reading real estate investing books, join online communities, and attend conferences or networking events where you can learn more about how to become a successful real estate investor. 

Scout Out Opportunities

Deciding what type of real estate investments you would like to get involved in is the first step in becoming an intentional investor. Consider if you would like to pursue residential rentals or if you want to aim higher with commercial properties or dabbling with REITs. 

Once you’ve decided what type of investment is best for your success, it’s time to scout out opportunities. Look at the local real estate market, or even in other states, and find properties that match your plans. 

Make a Business Plan

Here’s where you’ll notice a major difference between acting as an accidental landlord and an intentional investor. Financially savvy real estate investors create business plans for their investments. 

This means they plan out every single thing they will do and how their investment will earn a return. Whether they plan to buy, flip, and sell, or hold and rent, a business plan is a document where everything is written down to follow. 

This is where the initial investment and operating expenses are added up, and the monthly income or ROI is calculated to see if the investment is worth making. Your business plan is the key to putting you on the right track for a successful investment.

Grow Your Network

When you’re diving into a new industry, the best thing you can do for yourself is to network with other professionals. Meet leasing agents, property managers, real estate lawyers, mortgage lenders, and contractors to add to your contacts. 

Talking with people who have experience in real estate can give you the firsthand knowledge you need to make smart investment decisions. Plus, these are the people you’ll want around to help you when it comes time to take action. 

Make Your Move

You can learn, network, and plan all you want, but the way to make the shift from an accidental landlord to a real estate investor is by making your first investment. 

Team up with a real estate professional licensed to sell property in the state where you would like to invest and work with them to find a great deal for your investment. It could take weeks, months, or even a year until you find the right opportunity to start. 

But once you get your financing, make that down payment, walk away keys in hand, and find high-quality tenants to rent it, you’ve officially become a real estate investor and an intentional landlord! 

Maximize Your Maryland Real Estate Investments with Mainstay Management

One of the best real estate professionals you can meet, as both an accidental landlord and real estate investor, is a property manager. 

That’s where Mainstay Management comes in! As Maryland’s leading property management company, we help landlords of all types rent out their properties and maximize their rental income. 

We’ll take care of everything, from finding high-quality tenants to collecting rent each month to keeping detailed financial records. We ensure your property is compliant with local regulations and that everything goes smoothly. 

When you choose the Mainstay way, landlords get to sit back, relax, and grow their real estate investment portfolio. 

Contact us to see how we can help you maximize your rental income today!