Motivation and Compensation

I have a friend of a friend who is a realtor in NYC for Celebrities. He makes 500k+ annually without a formal education. He was lucky enough to be connected to the right people at the right time. He fell into it....Has very little passion for real estate, but money is his motivation. He is successful and I pat him on the back with a hard swing each time I see him, jk.

I, on the other hand, am trying to accumulate numerous certifications in an attempt to earn a modest salary. With so much competition and only a handful of job opportunities it is very difficult to continue the hunt for a position that has 200 applicants/ 100 qualified applicants/ 50 highly qualified applicants/ 25 highly skilled and qualified individuals. Where do I fit in?

I am questioning my motives because money is a "need", opportunities as an analyst/associate are scarce. Would it be best to bite the bullet, become a realtor and work my ass off to close deals? I am a numbers guy and would prefer to run numbers and analyze deals. I want to re-position assets. I want to take dilapidated properties, create some value, lease them up and sell them.

Rather, I think I am going to have to become a realtor and hope that ultimately leads me to a position within a reputable firm. Any Suggestions