Yeah, I'll take advice from someone who made their fortune off of real estate appreciation alone with a grain of salt.
I will say real estate is a great investment, it's why I own rental properties. However, making money off appreciation is just icing on the cake. It should not be the sole avenue.
That's very high risk high reward. Buying 5 years ago was great. Buying now in many markets, including mine in South Florida I don't think is the best idea.