There is so much to be said for willing to accept a certain amount of austerity at points in your life with the reward being a future free from debt.

That said with the cost of flight training it's pretty hard, if not impossible, to get out of debt before you turn 30 (assuming you start flying when you're 20)

Go to Zillow and check out the Denver area. Wholly sheet! 16% annual appreciation. We are well above the 2007 peak. I think it's time to harvest and put some serious coin in me pocket...perhaps go out to the west coast, soak up the sun, and rent. Debt free. Or head on down to Houston and easily pay cash for a house with this kind of equity. Thanks to this incredible stock market run, the college funds are more than adequate for the State schools my kids attend. Yessir, debt free is for me (and my kids). Good article.