I self manage our rentals (we had been using Empire but I want happy with their services) and use Cozy to run background/credit along with all the paperwork.

Your empire won't build itself.

I now want to diversify, I have around $1m in S&P 500, and want to use the other $1.5 for real estate investing.My end goal is to build a Real Estate Empire and I feel like I am in a very good situation to do so,I love working and I am not looking for "passive income".What would you pros do in my situation?

By taking the equity from one property and reinvesting it into another, you can continue building your real estate empire without constantly injecting fresh capital.Why BRRR Works for Real Estate InvestorsThe BRRR strategy allows investors to grow their portfolios faster because it leverages the property’s equity to fund future deals.

If you rely on your personal income to pay back the HELOC, you will have a hard time expanding your real estate empire.

Have you ever looked in the Inland Empire or High Desert?

If you read through it you get a lot of empirical information on RUBS.

I also prefer not to use a management company, as I don't want them cutting into my profits.My long-term goal is to generate enough income to live comfortably and eventually build a real estate empire.

This is a common question among real estate owners.Let's dive in:The reality is that wealthy families often pass on real estate assets from generation to generation.For example, if one generation has an RE entrepreneur who amasses $50 million worth of real estate, that portfolio can generate enough cash flow to support multiple future generations comfortably when passed on.So, what happens if that initial investor built their empire by rapidly depreciating assets and using 1031 exchanges to lower the basis and defer taxes along the way?

It's all people, find that person among people and they'll help you stack the bricks of your empire.