They are reluctantly loaned an old family car as a teenager and young adult that we "happen to have extra".

@Cara Powers which mastermind group are you referring to?

Then, get off and walk home or take your car a shorter distance. 

Thanks, Cara. 😊  I've been thinking more about your question based on my LA experience, and some great advice I've read from three days of lurking here on BP from some RE veterans, based less on my fantasy but more on what I would do with your idea to start out at 1.5 and move into 3-5 million houses.First, it's all going to come down to your goals, here's a quote about that from Don Konipol (from the forum post https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/519/topics/1150499-the-...Quote from @Don Konipol:IMO, the financial reasons for investing in real estate include 1- Asset Preservation2- Increase Wealth3- Current Income4- Tax MinimizationWhile these four are not mutually exclusive, the more you benefit in one area the less will be the benefit in the others, given normal market conditions, unless you uncover something everyone else has missed.

I’d rather buy a house and have the tenants pay for the car, as rents slowly go up.  

Bought a car? A

Is their car a mess? 

Gasoline for the car as well.

@Cara Lonsdale I'll "tag back in".

Im willing to use my car as extra collateral on the home, and have 20% to put down.