Warren Buffett again pushes stocks over real estate. He calls property deals slow, tricky, and less smooth than stocks, above all at big sizes.
These words come from an old video of him at Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 yearly meeting. It aired months after he left as CEO on December 31, ending 30 years in charge.
Speed and simplicity beat haggling
Buffett said real estate needs long talks, piles of papers, and work with many people. That sets it apart from buying stocks.
Every word counts in real estate, Buffett noted about contracts and setups. Stocks trade in a flash if the price fits.
He recalled Berkshire’s own tries. In the 2008-09 crash, they chased property chances. But the work and time dwarfed the gains next to stocks.
Liquidity tips the scale
Buffett stressed cash speed as a big win. Huge stock trades wrap up in seconds. Real estate can drag weeks or months.
That gap hits hard in tough markets, when quick moves count. Buffett admitted some cheap property pops up in stress. Yet stocks beat it on value with less mess.
Where Charlie Munger split and matched
Buffett said partner Charlie Munger loved real estate and did deals into old age.
Buffett claimed Munger would pick stocks early if pushed. They scale better and work smoother—even fans see stocks’ edge.