Real Estate 30-Yr Wealth
$1,764,546
Equity: $1,621,696 + Cash Flow: $142,850
Stocks 30-Yr Portfolio
$1,522,065
Compound Annual Growth: 9.5%
Terminal Difference & Leader
+$242,481 RE
Real estate leads by 15.9% due to 5x leverage

Net Wealth Trajectory (30-Year Horizon)

Total wealth comparison: Real Estate Equity + Accumulated Cash Flow vs. Liquid Stock Index Value

Real Estate Total Wealth
Stock Index Portfolio
Remaining Mortgage
Scrub Timeline: Year 10 Leader: Real Estate
RE Equity: $289,410
RE Cumul. Cash Flow: $18,420
Stock Portfolio: $247,823
Mortgage Balance: $322,460

Source-Grounded Trade-off Analysis

Insights synthesized from experienced investors, property owners, and index fund advocates:

Physical Real Estate

  • Mortgage Leverage: $100k down controls a $500k physical property (5:1 leverage ratio) multiplying capital appreciation.
  • Inflation Buffer: Fixed-rate mortgage principal and interest stay static while nominal rents and property values escalate with inflation.
  • Frictional Drag: Vulnerable to tenant vacancy, non-payment, maintenance surprises, capex reserves, property taxes, and illiquid 6% exit commissions.

Broad Index Stock Funds

  • 100% Passive Compounding: Zero tenant disputes, zero physical maintenance, zero late-night plumbing emergencies or local zoning risk.
  • Frictionless Liquidity: Capital can be bought or sold instantly in minutes with negligible transaction costs and fractional precision.
  • Global Diversification: Instantly hold thousands of world-class productive enterprises instead of concentrated risk in one physical building.

30-Year Comparative Ledger

Granular amortization, rental cash flows, equity growth, and stock portfolio compounding

Yr Property Value Loan Balance RE Equity Net Rent (Annual) Cumul. Rent RE Total Wealth Stock Value Net Difference