A thing’s value and it always being yours are two different things.

If you're making a lot of money and can't even spend it all, buying a few quality properties in prime locations of core cities — is that valuable? Yes, it is.

But if you're struggling to earn money, draining six wallets just to afford a down payment, and your monthly mortgage exceeds 90% of your family's net income, taking out a 30-year loan so you're forced to live like there's no tomorrow, then buy a quality property in a prime location of a core city — is it still valuable? No. Who knows what'll happen in 30 years? You're already obsessing to the point of losing your mind, ruining your whole family's life. From then on, any little change — a pay cut, job loss, or even a work relocation — would be a massive disruption and put enormous pressure on your family.

Don't play games you can't afford to play. The wisdom of life boils down to knowing when you've got enough, acting within your means, and keeping your priorities straight.

Every game has an entry threshold. The common saying goes: you need three things — capital, background, and talent — to even sit at the table. (How do you play the game?) If you have none of those, you're a triple-nothing product. And triple-nothing products are always at a disadvantage in any field.