I’m hoping for a collapse in real estate

It's not going to happen. The last crash was 2008. Prices went down 30% which didn't come close to offsetting the increases from the previous run up.

https://dqydj.com/historical-home-prices/

At best there might be a long term oversupply from boomers dying. That would put long term pressure to lower prices. So if you wait 25 years you could have a house priced at what a house was 5 years ago.