These people at a certain age will switch from growing the pile of money with savings to monetizing the pile they’ve grown and be FI.

Why are you even thinking about 1031 when’ there is almost no gain. 1031, monetized installed sale or DST are great when the gain is substantial.I meant definitely sell. 

Real Estate is the only business that allows me to monetize my passion for architecture, design and my crazy diy skills, while filling a need in the marketplace.

It’s a more feasible option for one to budget and learn how to manage Monet and cut expenses and saveTo start investing then be out chasing a pipeDream.Obviously it seems like this individual is in a position where he needs to work many hours a week to maintain his lifestyle so he needs to change his habits first and watch everything else in life follow suite.

It's the argument that it's "over-priced" vs finding a property on one's own, doing a reno on one's own, getting it monetized, on one's own.....

In Real Estate one has direct and significant impact control and options available in the market value and monetization (dividends) of the real estate asset. 

Which I am in the process of monetizing.

Also starting to try to monetize information through Blogs, YT channels and eventually writing books, but it will be years before I see anything noticeable from that. 

How to monetize primary residence to enable a move?

At some point they need to monetize, because every business needs revenue.