According to Happy Money’s 2026 Credit Check-In survey, 41% of respondents reported carrying credit card debt, and 75% said they were concerned about interest rates. With 35% of consumers noting that building savings was one of their top financial goals for the year, it’s more important than ever to explore new income streams to help you out.
MoneyLion spoke with someone about how much they earn in semi-passive income each week, how the income stream works, and what it’ll take to achieve that consistent income. Stephan D., founder of Van to Vault and a corporate accountant, runs a furnished rental unit in the basement of the duplex he lives in that brings in just over $300 a week in semi-passive income.
Get Ahead: 5 Best Passive Income Streams To Make $5K in 6 Months
Read Next: 5 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)
What Does This Income Stream Earn?
“Right now the unit brings in about $1,300 a month, which works out to $300 a week over a full year,” remarked Stephan. “That’s mostly month-plus furnished stays through Furnished Finder these days rather than nightly Airbnb bookings.”
While he makes on average over $300 a week, the income doesn’t arrive weekly. There are some lucrative months, like April, when he brought in $2,400, and there was also a January when he brought in zero because it was a slow season.
How Does the Semi-Passive Income Stream Work?
He bought a duplex in 2021, lives in one unit, and rents the other long-term. The basement came as a separate unit that needed real work before he could list it as a short-term rental. The space was rented out to a roommate at $500 per month in the first year. After investing in the unit, he ran it as an Airbnb for about three years before turning it into a long-term furnished stay after a bad guest dispute.
The conversion to a short-term rental helped double the income instantly, but it cost a significant amount to renovate, and the turnovers between guests became a part-time job. The unit was listed on Airbnb for a few seasons until a guest dispute prompted him to switch to a month-plus stay option on a different platform.
What’s the Catch to This Income Stream?
The basement rental cost about $30,000 before he got his first booking because of the work required. The space needed a real build-out, bathroom, permits, and finishing, and then a few thousand more to furnish. This was all out of pocket before a dollar came back through bookings. While real estate income can be passive, you have to invest resources to get started and see a return on your investment.
The second catch is the time required to maintain this income stream, as he handles the cleaning and turnovers. He also handles all of the guest correspondence, from answering questions to ensuring they’re comfortable.
The final concern is constantly worrying about receiving a poor guest review because one bad guest dispute can be catastrophic. As a result, he moved most of his calendar to longer stays to reduce churn.
Lessons Learned From This Semi-Passive Income Source
These are the most important lessons from this semi-passive income stream.
There Are Hidden Costs To Factor In
When setting up a short-term rental, you have to remember that Airbnb takes a cut (they recently increased it). Then you have to think about the extra utilities, which can be $50 a month in water usage. Then the supplies and laundry can cost about $100 a month.
The highest cost is the time required to maintain this income stream, which is why it’s semi-passive. He’s constantly managing the listing and calendar, interfacing with customers (phone calls, messaging, addressing their concerns and complaints once in the unit), handling turnover and cleaning, and dealing with the odd maintenance call.
Some Things Are Out of Your Control
There was an early failure in the venture when the first guest ever demanded a refund over cleanliness on a documented clean unit. Most guests since have been fine, but a fair amount of screening is required.
Stephan concluded that this income stream holds up because it’s an appreciating asset that allows him to earn income. The rented space allows him to keep earning, but it’s essentially a small business with a lease, not a steady paycheck.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
