However, what about for the avg working person who's buying a house with money that isn't his (a mortgage) so that by the time he retires, he isn't burdened wit

However, what about for the avg working person who's buying a house with money that isn't his (a mortgage) so that by the time he retires, he isn't burdened with paying for a place to live. In that light, it also feels odd to consider a house as a source of cash flow. A lot of analysis I've read seemed to miss the fact that people pay for houses because people need places to live. And then this article uses a Manhattan apartment/condo as its example, so I don't think the advice is even meant for the "avg working person."