I do a lot of private lending and we do make some passive interest, but the good fixing flippers make the bulk of the money.

Neal and Jean-Marc were supposed to secure construction funds.

For short-term gains, options like private lending, where your IRA acts as the lender, can provide consistent returns through interest payments.

If you are skilled in each of the areas above, and you have enough in reserves to cover the costs of when things do not go as planned, then you can likely attract money from private money lenders who want to get a return on their money and they see lending to you as a low risk way of earning a better return than in the other passive investing options they have. 

Real estate is so localized that most federal based policy changes don't have massive influence.I can see him (semi-)privatizing Freddie/Fannie.

It isn't having paid off properties that offers security, there are still taxes, insurance, maintenance and management involved. 

I’m also open to exploring short-term rentals, private lending, or passive investing in funds—anything that maximizes returns while keeping risk and time commitments manageable.For context, I’d consider leaving my job if this could become a full-time venture that surpasses my current compensation (low-mid six figures).

Depending on your income needs, pulling equity out and lending privately combined with a fulltime or part time job may be another option that doesnt bring as much boom or bust risk as flipping. 

Non-recourse has less personal exposure, but you need a very strong balance sheet to secure this without bringing in a KP.

My goal is to create financial security for retirement.