Bedroom Real Estate: How This Unique Rental Strategy Earns $50,000 a Month

Ryan Chaw shares his bedroom real estate rental property strategy. As a pharmacist-turned-real estate investor Ryan shares how he built a successful portfolio of 14 rental properties generating $50,000/month in income by renting out homes by the bedroom to students and professionals near college campuses. Now financially free, he spends his time coaching others and maintaining a disciplined approach to growth while avoiding low-quality competition and preserving strong tenant relationships. Today we discuss... 

• Ryan Chaw transitioned from a pharmacist to a real estate investor inspired by his grandfather’s success in Bay Area real estate.
• He began investing in 2016 with a $262,000 property in Stockton, California, renting it by the bedroom to maximize cash flow.
• His strategy involves converting 3-bedroom homes into 5- or 6-bedroom rentals and leasing them to students and professionals.
• Ryan now owns 14 rental properties generating $50,000 per month in income and has fully replaced his pharmacist salary.
• Most of his tenants come from word-of-mouth referrals, especially from student communities at nearby colleges.
• Properties that would rent for $1,500–$2,200 annually generate $4,000+ per month when rented by the room.
• Competition in his niche is limited and often low quality, with few landlords offering the same level of service.
• Ryan sees consistent long-term demand with students signing multi-year leases and bringing in future tenants.
• Ryan targets neighborhoods favored by graduate students and healthcare professionals by researching Reddit forums for off-campus housing recommendations.
• He rents to both students and healthcare workers, often securing two-year leases from medical residents and fellows.
• He continues to acquire at least one new property per year and currently owns 14 rentals.
• He recommends keeping $7,000 to $10,000 per property in reserves to cover unexpected maintenance like HVAC or roof issues.
• He clusters tenants by category (e.g., pharmacy students, dental students, healthcare workers) to foster a sense of community.
• His four key success factors for student rentals are proximity to campus, neighborhood safety, affordability, and tenant community.
• Ryan uses VAs to triage maintenance requests and relies on a vetted contractor network to address issues within 24 to 48 hours.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
• Douglas Heagren | Pro College Planners

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast

Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast

Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast

For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/bedroom-real-estate-ryan-chaw-726