Real estate plays a pivotal role in the contemporary world, accounting for over half of global wealth and significant employment and GDP shares. This essay examines three key events of our times - the 2007-2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC), the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent technological revolutions - to place real estate's centrality. Analyzing housing price indexes in major economies, the paper identifies global trends and regional nuances, and it highlights real estate's dual role as both a reflection and driver of economic cycles. Then I explore in detail the GFC, the urban roots of COVID-19 and its effects on real estate markets, and the relationship between new techno-economic paradigms and cities and real estate. Future research directions on real estate are pointed out.