Is Rent the Only Truly Passive Income? Experts Weigh In on What’s Really Passive Income and What Isn’t

Core Insights - Rental income is often perceived as a "true" passive income source, but it typically requires significant effort and management [2][3] - The reality of rental property ownership includes tenant management, maintenance, and dealing with vacancies, making it semi-passive rather than fully hands-off [3][4] - Long-term tenants and professional management can reduce the workload, but rental income will never be completely passive [4][5] Income Streams Comparison - Dividend stocks, ETFs, bonds, and REITs are highlighted as closer to true passive income, as they do not involve the complexities of property management [6][7] - Most passive income options involve trade-offs between initial capital investment, risk, and time commitment [7]