This has been my observation in 45 years in real estate investment.  

The investors I’ve know through the years who have utilized “sharp tactics”, something less than “honesty”, etc.  ended ended up at retirement with 0 - $500,000 in net worth from real estate investing.  The investors who were totally ( or at least MOSTLY) honest in all their dealings ending up with real estate produced net worth $3 million or more.

I don’t know why this is, but I’ve seen it time and time again.