Simple because it’s proven to be the most effective way to get rich. And it doesn’t require a lot of knowledge of economics and theories. A lot of blue colar workers got rich that way. Countless restuarant owners got rich that way. The most complicated part may be tenant selection and mortgage loan applications.

It’s also hard: Because most people don’t have patience. They want to see immediate result. Also, RE is often a burden that they have to hold for bad periods as long as 5-7 years without any visible return. Most people are not trained to put up with this boredom. They lose patience faster than the market can come back to vindicate them. Also, most people are not trained or programmed to borrow 1 million dollar and feel comfortable.

Therefore, ironically, even if it’s easy and proven that RE can get people rich, but most people choose not to do it. Stock market is easy to enter, more liquid to sell, often provides instant gratifications, instant excitement and funs… However, real life has proven that stock market is hard to make middle class really escape its confines and attain true financial freedom in the end.