+1. Its all about not being a dumb shit and living within your means. I bought a nice old house I could easily afford in a nice neighborhood and remodeled it to be what I wanted. Now I have a nice 3 bedroom house with a beautiful kitchen and bath, big yard and a detached shop for less per month than I could rent a decent 2 bedroom apt. for. I dont care what anyone says about the investment, I could easily get what I have in it out of it right now and even if I couldnt, its TONS better than living in any apartment complex.