Real estate has historicaly been the vehicle by which the wage worker has been able to grow wealth, particularly if he/she is smart and able enough to buy other real property as well as the family home.
The string pullers don't like to see the masses gaining wealth though. Because of that the various levels of government have held back on releasing land for housing, increased development costs and slowed the development process down with inefficient bureaucracy and increased complexity of regulations.
They can't reduce demand, but they sure can reduce supply.
It is a good idea to look at the derivation and understand the true meanings of the words "real estate" and "mortgage".
If you look up "real" in the Oxford Concise Dictionary you will find the first definition of the word referrs to a Spanish coin which in English is a "Royal".
So your "real estate" is actually "Royal Estate'. Try not paying your rates for a while and you will find out how "Royal" it is.
Look up "mortgage" and you will find it is "mort = death + gage= pledge" or simply an engagement till death. You are never meant to pay off your mortgage.
So like a couple of the previous posters say, it either "jump on the band wagon or head for the bush". Cheers.
, to use for 2 hrs a day 
) and a kitchen that pro's would be proud of.... yet they eat out 3 times a week.
