Like with the stock market - you neither lose nor gain money until you sell.

People who purchase a house and justify its cost because "it's an investment," are fooling themselves.

The only two reasons you should buy a house are as follows:

1) You wish to put down roots and plan to live in this location for years.

2) You wish to use the property as a rental property.

If you live in your home, it's not an 'investment' nor should you justify any part of it as such. It isn't an investment, other than it being a place for you to live.

Buying a home isn't a BAD thing but people need to stop fooling themselves as to why.