I've got my new character up to level 52 now. I've started getting speech skills - just added the one that allows you to invest in business to raise their base cash amounts. The skill before that lets you sell anything to any merchant, which is a real time saver. I've got houses in Solitude, Rifken and Markarth. I've still barely completed anything in the main quest, or picked a side in the overall war, although I'm sure I'll go with the Stormcloaks (it's the rebel in me
).
Since I'm maxed out or nearly maxed out in all my primary skills at this point, I'm having to do new things to level up now. Starting to conjure stuff more and use destruction magic in combat, although I always keep the bow handy.