The part you're missing is that they bought into one of the highest appreciation real estate markets ever. Yes they made smart moves, but this is mostly a story of falling ass backwards into wealth. Put them in almost any other city and the story doesn't end the same.
And the cherry on top is that they use their new found wealth to deny others the opportunity they had.
>I'm missing what they did that denies others opportunity. Buying a couple houses in another state?
Yes. The number of affordable fixer uppers in a place like Madison is effectively fixed. The two houses they bought means two fewer young people can climb onto the property ladder.
>And sure, any wealth story has some piece that involves luck and/or timing. Nothing wrong with that.
The wrong part is not having the self awareness to realize that they were lucky.
How this will be perceived? Very positively, at least by me. Good for them. We're not talking about a slumlord here.