Lessee. When you die your heirs can sell your house and get money. If you were renting, your heirs get… nothing other than possibly a few more payments. That

Lessee. When you die your heirs can sell your house and get money. If you were renting, your heirs get… nothing other than possibly a few more payments. That’s a working definition of wealth for me. Also, I could sell my SV house and move damn near anywhere, buy a larger house and live on the proceeds. Another definition of wealth that doesn’t involve me dying. It’s an inflation hedge that you can live in. However, I do not recommend buying a house unless you can change jobs easily without moving. The things don’t tend to be liquid, particularly in down times. Getting one paid off before exiting the workforce, though, is advantageous.