Real Estate investing can make you a fortune  but lot of people get into it and don't do so well. 

I had moved away from flipping for several years, but my life circumstances have changed and, fortunately, real estate provides endless opportunities to pivot when needed.

If you look at the Forbes list of richest people on earth, I think you have to get down to something like 150 before you find someone that is actually listed as having made their fortune in real estate.  

@Christopher MorrisI am one of the fortunate ones that has retired from my w-2 and now do real estate full time.

Fortunately, I was thinning my herd back in I think 2014 or so by getting rid of a few (experimental) investments in cheaper neighborhoods.

We have been fortunate to rarely hold any security funds from former tenants.

Fortunately my value is up about $1m above cost, so the poor cash flow is a mild inconvenience.  

I don't hold grudges...as a general guideline anyways...And in another direction, but sort of relevant to the thread in a way, I was watching my daily dose of Wheel Of Fortune yesterday, the person won a trip to England, and on the promo they said "...and enjoy all the cultural culinary delights of southern England"...wait what?

That I can make something of myself in this world, and give a better life to my children and If I am lucky to find great fortune, invest for the betterment of my local home town.What I can say to new investors who are looking to get started, be carful who you trust, and if you come from nothing like me understand nobody cares - and this lofty idea of chasing the American dream is an internalized emotion not many can relate to, especially in this field where some people some from old money, and have multi million dollars... they simply cannot relate to you.

Fortunately - we have a good relationship with our servicers and can get frictional matters that arise rectified/resolved relatively quickly, but the frequency of said matters could certainly be reduced.