Snark aside, you rightly allude to housing as an investment rather than an expense. Even those who bought post-2010 are still up by varying amounts, although t

Snark aside, you rightly allude to housing as an investment rather than an expense. Even those who bought post-2010 are still up by varying amounts, although those amounts are all likely 6 figures given the median home prices and recent increases. One doesn't need to pay off house. Upon retirement, just sell it and cash out and move to a cheaper area.