The challenge is separating the two oft intertwined thoughts of what's financially optimal, and what is lifestyle desirable. We often use an argument in one ar

The challenge is separating the two oft intertwined thoughts of what's financially optimal, and what is lifestyle desirable. We often use an argument in one area to justify a poor choice in another. It's fine to make a financially suboptimal choice to rent/buy (as is the case) to acquire a desirable lifestyle. Just as it's financially optimal to walk everywhere, but in reality we want to drive a car (and maybe a fancy one at that). It's when we start to say "This home is an investment, so I'll buy a $EXPENSIVE home"... that simply burdens us with high expenses relative to the lifestyle gains and we've actually done the opposite of good investing, for little lifestyle gained over a moderate home.