If you treat it like a hobby, you will fail.

Obviously it won't provide for a lavish "retirement" but if I want a new toy I can always build a spec home or two and not touch any income.The real question is am I going to have the same level of enjoyment from the hobbies I love now when i'm 50 or will they have been replace with all new hobbies?

Treat REI like a hobby and it will pay like a hobby.

We enjoy inexpensive hobbies on our limited time off (beaches, gardening, home movies, BBQs with friends, etc.), so no cable, gym membership, etc.

I would like to add that there are those that view REI as a hobby, a side hustle, trophy collections, while others look to it for financial freedom, wealth building, and as a lifestyle.

I have always thought of passive real estate income as something I wanted to get into but always thought of it as a hobby I could start at anytime.

Some people don't like this approach because they really want to get their hands dirty, to that I would say find a hobby, treat real estate like it should be treated, as a business and an investment.

Fortunately I have a hobby of collecting credit cards.

-What do you like to do for fun, in other words do you have any hobbies? 

I've owned a single rental property for several years now, but until recently have been treating it as a hobby and not as a business.