IME the ones who are successful long-term and make serious money do indeed use their market knowledge, connections, and access to make real estate plays themsel

IME the ones who are successful long-term and make serious money do indeed use their market knowledge, connections, and access to make real estate plays themselves. Move into owning rentals, do some flipping, that kind of thing. The easiest path seems to be having a spouse who's in a different, but relevant, career (e.g. general contractor).