$100K is no chicken feed even today. Espcially for a 30-year old fresh from the mainland. That was "the first bucket of gold" if you had made it. It would be more telling than your real estate story.
By the way Robert T. Kiyosaki's "the first bucket of gold" was made from a stock IPO. He got in before the public through connections. I have his book. I got it from a yard sale for 25 cents. It is a good book.
When I got out an American school after 3 years, I got $7,000. A"monumental achievment" considering that I had first landed in US with $200. Investing was just a lingering thought until I had $20,000.
When you have money things get a lot easier. Thanks for sharing.