There's absolutely no conflict of interest. Anyone--living anywhere--can also do Option 3. Or not. The poster I responded to presented 2 options: #1. Investing in a property to live in, saving rent. #2. Investing in things other than property, while renting. I merely pointed out that there is a third option. Remember, Option 3 is simply investing in both property to live in and also other investments. It never has to be either or--you can do this or you can do that. No, you can do both. My spouse and I have chosen the US stock market for the majority of our other investments but we also have 2 mutual fund accounts, as well as cash. The fact that we hold property we buy and live in for sometimes short periods is totally irrelevant. Whether we own and live in a property for 1 year or for 30 years, we still get the benefits I mentioned: an investment that is increasing in value while we live in it, monthly savings on rent, and, for us and many others, the joy of living in our own space, with all our own high quality things, and with the freedom to make minor or major changes to what we own. Nobody, and certainly not me, is forcing anyone to do Option 3. My post was to simply say that there is this third option. Anyone uncomfortable using any of the investment options, not just real estate, should definitely find something else they are comfortable with.
