Too many people are hoping for RE to retire, when too many people run for the same thing, it will not end well.
Future will be different from the past. US real estate market will not recover for 20 or 30 years. Easy credit is only history. It will never comeback again.
Don't bet on this false hope, if you do, you could be very disappointed.
The best way to make money is either investing in stock market or launch your own business.