I track our net worth.  I have since 2005.  I know a couple of points about us prior as well that we bought our condo in 2002 with 10% down on $165k 1 bed condo.  That was a lot then, it was in southern california.  We literally stretched and pulled all our cash of about $20k to buy it.  We sold it for $260k in 2005 so we 10x our down payment and bought another condo.  But in 2005 we really started saving cash in retirement accounts and taxable accounts.  So let's say we had $150k net worth in 2005.  $0 in 2000 and all of that came from our home equity.

Anyway I realized we hit in $1m in cash around 2015 when we sold our second condo and move cross country and liquidated our equity.  In 9/2017 we hit a $1m in our accounts and bought our current home with 20% down.  So I guess 17 years but really I would say more like 12 years to make/save our first million not counting home equity.

But then I just looked back and in 7/2021 is when we hit our second million not counting the home equity.  And this year we've hit our third million not counting our home equity.  It definitely has been on an exponential curve. 

It's also interesting because we haven't been saving these past 3 years at the rate we were saving before.  Before we were saving close to 30-50% of our income but now we save closer to 20-25%.  And our income has gone but the gains from our investments have made up the difference.

For our home equity?  We have made surprising gains in this time though.  We have paid down a substantial amount of our mortgage.  How much?  16% which I think in 7 years is a lot and we did put down 20%.  Our mortgage is definitely quickly trending in the very reasonable category and yes we are in our 40s.  And yes we've been paying mortgages for about 20 years.  But we've never lived anywhere that wasn't HCOLA so our mortgages except for the 1st have been jumbo.  And even then $165k for a 1 bedroom condo in 2002?  That was a lot for perspective for 575 sq ft in 2002 dollars.

I find it amazing that buying a home early does matter and help.  That it fixes your costs lower and longer I believe.  I also think that you have to put in the time of saving early because it does make a difference that now we do max out our 401ks but the impact is significantly less than when we were 25 and 27.  But it's hard to see 20 years out the difference it makes.  It's hard to think gee i'm 30 and in 15 years I'm going to be thrilled we saved instead of buying a newer car.  Now we buy the car cash and I still have my portfolio from the sacrifice made earlier.  

My advice to young people?  Start early.  Buy a home or save for retirement or just save.  I swear it makes a bigger difference than you think.