One of my previous bosses asked me a few years ago why I hadn't entered the property market after arriving in Australia. I didn't want to tell a man that owns (with huge mortgages) that I didn't think it was a wise investment decision at this stage. That paying rent in a nice apartment was just fine by me (even if others did think that was a bit second class).
He rung me the other day... poor bugger telling me he's under quite a bit of financial stress.