Expedia's stock price is almost exactly where it was 5 years ago YTD.

Using zillow as your only data source for analyzing a rental market is analogous to buying a stock because you like its ticker symbol.

.- RE is overpriced so buy stocks. 

Which I think is why MOST properties don't sell for that close to the market value.its not that much different from a stock option right?

With $1M today, and $2M accumulated and invested over 13 more years, I think you are looking at an end state NW of ~$5M.Personally, I’d love an end state $5M portfolio that looked something like this:$750K paid off home$250K cash$2M stock portfolio (as much as possible in tax advantaged accounts likely 401(k), HSA, and less in the Roth in this situation).

I am weighing this option against investing in an S&P 500 ETF in the stock market (historical 10% return).

I'm particularly passionate about finding great deals.Outside of real estate, I enjoy dabbling in the stock market and trading derivatives, and an LA Rams season ticket holder.

I am weighing this option against investing in an S&P 500 ETF in the stock market (historical 10% return).

I’ve been doing that with a few market recently, I try to spend a week just online trying to figure out the different boundaries/different neighborhoods, what the dividing lines are, what type of housing stock is there (I only focus on post ww2 brick for instance) than figure what the yields are in these areas, and then decide if the yields are decent enough on risk adjusted basis to bother to invest.

You either want a company that pays a dividend on top of guaranteed interest or an IUL that will share in stock market growth.