Owning property is an extremely democratic pathway to financial independence. And it's only gotten more and more democratic as the financial world evolves. Yes it sucks to spend the first 5 or so years of your years in an unaffordable city getting established in an industry. But it's not the worst lot in the world. You can meet your spouse there and then start a family out where it's cheap. Won't be long before everyone's working from home.
Not a bad life.