You're just trading one kind of risk for another. When you own real estate you have a lot more control over your cost of living. That said, I think it would be

You're just trading one kind of risk for another. When you own real estate you have a lot more control over your cost of living. That said, I think it would be fair to distinguish proper ownership from paying a 30 year mortgage. There's really not much difference in economic terms between renting and 3 decades of structured payments once you factor in insurance, fees, etc. If you own real estate outright and it's homestead in a place like Texas, your total monthly burn rate could easily be <$1000. Why kill yourself with delusions of grandeur in the market? It's significantly easier to control your own consumption habits if you want to wind up with a net gain.