it's simple enough to understand that raising capital isn't terribly difficult. People like to invest in things they understand and most people understand real estate (or at the very least they can figure it out quickly). People also like to invest in things they can see and touch.

It's a trillion dollar industry will lots of inefficiencies. A savvy person can take advantage of these inefficiencies.

Become an expert. Know everything you can about the industry, read everything you can (and I don't mean that you should read the Donald Trump "you can do it" nonsense, I'm talking about studying real estate finance text books and construction management text books - you really have to understand everything about how the business really works), pick a location that has positive job growth and population growth and know the area better than anyone else. Know the buyers and sellers, the builders and the brokers, the lenders and the investors. Understand the building codes, understand regulations (where they are today and where they are headed), understand construction costs and operating costs, understand your competition, understand your clientele.

Work 80 hrs a week for 10 years and then decide if you can slow the hours down.

Carried interest is the way to wealth, start earning it as soon as you can.