[l2ridehd]

I think of the home as a potential bank account with $$$$ in it. I use it, I live in it, but if ever needed I could sell it and rent, or get a reverse mortgage, sell and buy a smaller cheaper home, but somehow access that equity if needed. Hopefully never will and can let the kids and grand kids worry about it. I currently have 3 homes here so yes I use the other two as investments. So far have worked out well as rentals with mortgage getting smaller, property value growing slowly, and all being paid by someone else.

I watched my parents scrimp and save and not travel, not spend, because they were afraid of running out of money. (grew up in the depression) None of us kids needed it and we use to plead with them to spend it on themselves. They never did. So very sad. When they died there was not much left so I guess they achieved there goal, but all 3 of their children could have and would have taken care of them.

After watching what happened to them, my objective is to have my check to the undertaker bounce. Children are educated, have good jobs, grandchildren have paid up 529's thanks to pop pop, so I believe what we have, we should use for us. I was blessed in life and always had great jobs, earned more than I ever dreamed possible, and now is time to spend it and enjoy life. So my home is a bank account that if ever needed I will cash out and spend.

[Cedwards38]

I guess anything that has the potential to earn or lose money for one is an investment, however we did not think that way when we bought this home. It's more of a tool to provide us with shelter, comfort, storage, and lifestyle. I've never lost money on a home, but I've never thought of them in terms of what they can earn for us.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I guess anything that has the potential to earn or lose money for one is an investment, however we did not think that way when we bought this home. It's more of a tool to provide us with shelter, comfort, storage, and lifestyle. I've never lost money on a home, but I've never thought of them in terms of what they can earn for us.

Our feeling exactly. Although we have followed certain rules suggested to hopefully assure appreciation--for instance, buy low in a high neighborhood, and location, location, location--we never looked at home buying from the standpoint of making money. The one time we made a killing was from being in the right place at the right time. We just as easily could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our financial security comes from other types of investments. We didn't even pay cash for this place because money was so cheap at the time, and our broker started tearing his hair out at the thought. So I apologized to our son for ultimately leaving him with a house to sell, and he said no worries--he's buying his expat brother out and moving to The Villages!

[billethkid]

I am not sure many folks look at the home they are about to purchase as to whether it is a good investment.
We buy what we want and like where we want to be and like.
I grant that there is some number of folks who weigh that very carefully...maybe short term ownership....anticipated multiple moves in one's life time...etc.

Perhaps we have been fortunate but we wound up never selling any home for less than we paid. And most were significantly better returns. But as has been mentioned that return is usually based on acquisition cost VS selling price...excluding cost of ownership.

Like the stock market whether one is losing or gaining is only pertinent at the time of the sale. The rest of the time it is a feel good or hand wringing on paper only.

There are no decisions we make that include what will be left for those we leave behind.
I do not view that as selfish. Maybe it is because we know we will never use what we have!?

A very individual view/position for us all.

[PennBF]

We definitely see our home as our "Frog" settlement as we are here until we croak.

[sail33or]

All my financial advisors have ALWAYS said the same thing. A personal home is NOT an investment. It is where you SUBJECTIVELY want it and subjectively spend money on it. And you can never expect some other buyer to value it as you do. Some people will pay $100K for a Golf Course view and others will pay NOT to see golf carts. Personal choice. Not an investment. I see lots of folks worry about (Supply and Demand) in The Villages. The Developer will be able to always Supply any Demand. Location is a Subjective choice. (So no a home should not be viewed as an investment.) Since it is subjective though, many will. Personal choice.

[sail33or]

Also, if you sold your house in order to use the proceeds. you would need to use the proceeds to pay for HOUSING of some sort. It would be generating a negative return until it is zero.

[graciegirl]

My husband was employed by a large corporation that moved it's people every few years so that was the basis for our feeling about buying with thoughts to sell. We were corporate gypsies. We have owned ten homes. Only one did we lose money on.

We also have a very wonderful special needs child that we don't want ever to be hungry after we exit stage right.

I find that people on this forum view their homes with a decided link to their politics. (The few I know well enough to figure that out.)

I am one that wears old clothes and clips coupons and probably always will. And my husband is working as a consultant for the same company that he worked for, for almost fifty years. Not many hours, but ya never know...

[hulahips]

I do not consider it an investment any longer. If we purchased yrs ago and sold now maybe. However with the prices so high now, I don't see Making any money on it. Sometimes I worry that in the future prices will decline as they overbuild. Many will find that a Turn off and want out. Especially as we all age, need hospitals and we don't have enough. That plus the traffic, congestion etc... Will make many leave

[Chatbrat]

When I was in college an finance professor lectured about the differences between renting & home purchasing, he said renting would be more advantageous from a $$ point of view--backing out taxes, interest ,repairs, improvements, selling & buy expense and the big one is lost opportunity to invest because so much $$ are tied up in a non liquid asset

Personally--I never looked at a non liquid asset as an investment,

[rubicon]

Do you look at your home as an investment. Yes because it is subjected to some of the same risks as other investments.

Yes because I maintain it and keep it as current as I can so that my kids will be in a position to live in it, rent it, sell it. So I now view it as an investment for my kids.

Like a number of people living here we moved around the country and were fortunate to be able to have closing costs, moving cost mortgage rate differentials met. This afforded us the opportunity to free up equity and reinvest that equity into successive homes

We viewed our homes so much as an investment that we never hung pictures on the wall to maintain them in as pristine a state as we could.

irrespective of the market our kids will have a financial windfall if they sell it.

[dewilson58]

My homes up North were investments...........I cared about their increasing values so I could afford more when I retire.

My home in TV..........an investment???......Nah.

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Do you look at your home as an investment. Yes because it is subjected to some of the same risks as other investments.

Yes because I maintain it and keep it as current as I can so that my kids will be in a position to live in it, rent it, sell it. So I now view it as an investment for my kids.

Like a number of people living here we moved around the country and were fortunate to be able to have closing costs, moving cost mortgage rate differentials met. This afforded us the opportunity to free up equity and reinvest that equity into successive homes

We viewed our homes so much as an investment that we never hung pictures on the wall to maintain them in as pristine a state as we could.

irrespective of the market our kids will have a financial windfall if they sell it.

Spackle and a coat of paint allows one to truly enjoy their "investment". Whatever provides one comfort and satisfaction.
No real wrong answer when all is said and done.

[rjm1cc]

Not an investment. Now I realize that you might have bought a home for $50,000 and it is worth a million now. But I think that is the exception. I think of it that you need a home so if you sell one you buy another so it is not an investment. For most when you consider inflation, real estate taxes, maintenance etc it could be a cost.

As far as making a profit with an over 55 community home I think not. As people die or move on the pressure might be to sell as quickly as possible and thus depress used house prices.

[Topspinmo]

We've worked for everything We got, no inheritance, no rich spouse just working and doing right thing. Everything we got paid for and NO credit card debt. Not bad for ******* child? Yes, for us it's big investment. How can 200k plus not be and for some of you 10x more? I expect to at least get most our money back when we sell. I envy you silver spooners that don't think of you home an investment. Must of got lots of free stuff over the years and lived sheltered life to consider what I Call big investment.