It's an investment in the sense that you have to spend a lot of money/get a huge loan upfront. But many people also see it as a way to make money. Unlike basic

It's an investment in the sense that you have to spend a lot of money/get a huge loan upfront. But many people also see it as a way to make money. Unlike basically everything else we buy for living, people think that the only direction the value of their house can go is up. If you look at it like your car (it costs money, but maybe you'll get some money back), then you can't be disappointed. In the worst case, it's no different from paying rent. Plus, unlike penny stocks, you can live in the house. The obvious protip here: don't buy a second house unless you can afford losing money on it.