When I was 19, I bought a run down 3 family with my father. We doubled the value in a year.

My friends chose to have car payments, I chose to have a mortgage. Their "asset" went down in value, while mine appreciated and the rents paid the mortgage and a positive cash flow.

Never understood why people are afraid to invest in the stock market or real estate, but are more than happy to pay interest on a car and watch it lose value daily.