Agreed. I've always considered this a bit of a myth. Most houses only appreciate if you spend time, effort, and money to properly maintain them. On top of main

Agreed. I've always considered this a bit of a myth. Most houses only appreciate if you spend time, effort, and money to properly maintain them. On top of maintenance, in most places, you'll have to pay annual taxes. When I go to sell my current house, I may break even - essentially living free. However, I certainly don't expect to come out ahead.