To feel down about friends moving on and us being "one step behind"

[FreeBeeBird]

We are first time buyers a bit late to the game, we are just approaching our 40s and about to buy our first property (flat) with a small DC.
I am grateful to be able to be in this position as it hasn't been easy to get a deposit down (London) but am starting to see several friends around me, same age (some younger) also with DC selling their current flats and moving on to much bigger and better things (houses, some in the same areas, some outside of London) that are unaffordable for us.
I want to feel happy for them but cannot help feeling like I am late to the game and whilst they show me pictures of their new 3-4 bed houses with driveways and massive gardens, I feel underwhelmed with the idea that we are going to be purchasing a 2 bed apartment instead.
I know things aren't forever and with the high interest rates right now we are probably better off buying something we can afford and then hopefully move on to better things in a few years but as we are no longer that young, sometimes I worry we have missed that train and it's too late for us.

AIBU?

You've done well to buy property of any kind in London!

I do hear you though. I'm in mid 40s, one small child, got together with partner late in life, I'd been bad with money and he was divorced (no kids) so we got our start late. We've moved out of London to buy a modest house with garden and we spend an extortionate amount on commuting. I frequently wonder whether we'd have been better down-sizing our expectations and buying a flat in London!

Many of the (younger) couples around us have bigger, nicer houses and often have managed to keep their flat in London as investment.

But you have to count your blessings and play the cards your dealt.

It sounds like you're doing pretty well to me - try not to compare, it really doesn't help!