> Plenty of reasons why a home should not increase in value,just because. It's not just because. It is because the cost of a brand new identical house is highe

> Plenty of reasons why a home should not increase in value,just because. It's not just because. It is because the cost of a brand new identical house is higher in the future (more expensive materials, higher labor cost), so that will pull up the value of the existing comparable houses. Older houses are often more attractive so may price above the new ones. The new house comes pretty bare (unless it is a luxury builder but then you're paying that premium), often with zero landscaping etc. An established house gets you a nice yard, mature trees, etc.