For C-class, I only update the necessities for habitation.

Saving money is a difficult task for me, not due to a lack of discipline, but rather being a student and not being able to properly save money due to necessities. 

It's not a necessity.

I also have an accidental rental in NJ that is more of a rental of necessity that an investment property.

Sell everything you own that isn’t a necessity.  

It's not a predetermined necessity to give a Property Manager 30% revenue, one has options and possibilities to hire your own crew at a cheaper rate. 

That in 30 years we will have this house totally paid for and be able to use that greatly increased income to fund many of our day to day living necessities, regardless of what the stock market is doing.

Lastly, in your opinions, does having a property with a driveway to park a car a necessity or luxury in these areas (close to the city with public transportation)?

Perhaps because of their culture they are trying to pressure and manipulate you to live with them because they would prefer it is certainly not a necessity with all of the services available there.

On larger purchases like commercial apts or industrial,  I'll finance out of necessity but use private lenders.