Real estate is more lucrative than the stock market, save the rare instances you hit the jackpot with the right small-cap stock (i.e. buying Tesla a couple years ago).
Example:
$100,000
Stocks - $100,000 ----> $108,000, given the hypothetical return of 8%
+$8,000
Real Estate - $100,000 ----> $500,000 property, ----> $515,000, assuming hypothetical return of 3%
+$15,000
Furthermore, I can dump that $100,000 into income producing real estate that pays me a hell of a lot more monthly cash flow than dividends, and can be reinvested into owning more of that $500,000 asset.
Real estate also has tangible value in that you can live in it. You always need a primary residence. That expense is doesn't go away.