>>60545347 (OP)>be me>2016>2 years into career>rented but saving>use savings for 40% down-payment>finance remaining 150k @ 2.45%>coworkers laugh>rentoid coworkers say that's throwing money away>"Stonks bro STONKS">start aggressively paying off>contribute minimum to employee match>max IRA>get promoted>pay off house in 26 months>learn about house hacking >apply same strategy to another small rentals>covid>housing rockets 3x>people boasting that 401k has 2x>people at work now cant get mortgages>house is now worth 650k and paid off >two rentals paid off, ROI 18% and 22%>41% and 35% adjusted ROI >house values have 2x>I have one closing next week>tenant is buying the other one>shits going to dumpI'll use the proceeds to buy more real estate in a couple years when this bottoms, but im out, and my co workers are still without a home, they just have numbers on a screen because price and rates are too high. Having a paid off house is by far the best wealth building tool, but you need to be on the right side of the transaction. Don't buy now, stack cash and get ready to pounce and pay your shit off.