You've missed the entire point.

Fuck your 'downpayment'. That's exactly what people are rejecting - the idea that they should simply become a serf to some previous landowner for multiple decades because they happened to be born later.

A van may have maintenance, but it's not rent-seeking behaviour.

It's true, but as we see in another discussion today [1], those options typically don't come with a very good internet connection. :)

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21722874

How is a down payment a fair comparison to all up ownership? If we’re going that route what’s to say he didn’t put down $5k on a $25k loan?

I can’t imagine there are many places in the US where you can purchase a home and car for less than $25k. Total purchase price, not down payment.

Is a downpayment on a house the same as buying outright an RV?

RVs need gas, maintenance, and a place to be all of which generally cost money. Especially if you want access to sewer, water, and electricity.

Do those things generally cost more than a mortgage, insurance, property tax, and utilities on a house that you made a $25K downpayment on?

I don't own an RV, but I've owned two houses and I'm guessing the RV monthly expenses will be quite a bit lower.

I'm not trying to argue whether or not an RV or a cheap house is going to be less expensive, a question I am not interested in. It's in disputing the assertion that you can't afford a home and transportation for less than $25k and the idea that your only choice is an expensive inner city apartment, a mcmansion, or a van.

My mistake. I thought you were answering bronco21016's question of "Where else can you get a home/transportation combo for that price?"