re: real estate license/side job

I’ve actually thought a lot about this. I have multiple engineering degrees and have a career in that field. My employer does a perfect job ensuring I’ll never have enough time to even think about a side gig. However I have a deep passion for timberland and rural real estate, and I think often about trying to do it in retirement. I’ve bought land and one thing has always stuck out to me: in less than 10% of situations has the agent I contacted (usually listing agent) known more about the land than I did. I usually contact the listing agent because I’ve never met a buyer’s agent that would call me back a second time.

Downsides to my plan are numerous, but I can’t help but think I could so easily outwork these folks enough to make some walking around money, if not a second career.