I did not call home ownership an investment. My mortgage, taxes and insurance on my 2300 sq ft house equals the cost of a nice, not luxiourous, 2-3 bedroom apartment. I make my payments and by the time I retire, my house will have value, and then I will only be paying taxes, insurance and up keep for a whole lot less than a 1 bedroom apartment. As I get older, I can sell the house and use the proceeds to live out my final years where I want, wether it is a retirement community or what ever. My point was, home ownership is a good deal IF you don't overspend on a large, asset eating abode. If your income only allows buying a one bedroom condo, then that is what you can afford, and I still say, that is a better way to go than renting your entire life. Like I said, my home costs me monthly what a 2 bedroom apartment would cost but I have much more, including a two car garage to park my 986 in
