Special offer

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,555,968
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

Homes are generally a great investment and a vehicle for building wealth, but I would not say a homeowner is an investor.  An investor is looking to have a cash flow that perhaps offers a greater return vis a vis other investments.  Home values can drop, thus making for a lousy "investment" keeping in mind that an investment can only truly be measured when it is sold or liquidated.  Just my opinion.  Naturally, I don't think anybody who buys a house expects to lose money on it, but sometimes it happens, as life happens.

Jun 25, 2022 12:35 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

Investments come in many forms. Homeownership is an investment on a family's future of happiness, wealth, education, pride and prosperity.  Buying a home in some areas of the country is like investing in the stock market.  Here in California is is all purely speculative.  In parts of the mid-west price don't really fluctuate as much.  The tax benefits can really enhance the value of the investment.

Jun 25, 2022 02:17 PM
Rainmaker
584,631
Shayne Stone
HomeSmart - Fulshear, TX
"Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED

YES!

 

It is one of their biggest major investments they'll ever make. Like I explain to my buyers "This is not a Home, but a House an Investment - Home is what you make of it. It will be the BIGGEST piggy bank you will have!"

 

Also wish more people kept that in mind when property taxes come around. All over Facebook I read where everyone is upset over the new taxes - LOL

 

That's like telling your Stockbroker that you would be upset if your investment went up in value, because you have to pay more in taxes...

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 25, 2022 05:53 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

One's hope is that their home will appreciate over time...which has historically been true.

In the interim, the owner benefits from living in the home they love, in a neighborhood they enjoy and as close to good schools and their place of employment as possible.

Other homeowners, of course, may embrace a different strategy

Jun 25, 2022 04:26 PM
Ambassador
3,854,886
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Peter,  Interesting question.

I don't think so. I didn't buy my home with the plan of reselling.  Buyers are looking for that American dream, security, and pride of ownership, raising a family, and living the good life. They want to love where they live. Hopefully, they are buying smart and will have a profit in the end. And it is a sunny day in Baltimore!

Jun 25, 2022 02:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,634
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

 

82 degrees and sunny 🌴😎 answer:

Yep, it's just that first and foremost it's a home to build a wealth of memories in, then hopefully sell for a nice equity windfall and move on to whatever that next phase is for them.

Jun 25, 2022 05:50 PM
Rainmaker
805,799
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

I would have to say no Peter. We all hope we can sell for more than we purchased it for, but there are times when it is not possible. The homes we have bought are our home to live in and hopefully they go up in value. Other homes we purchase are strictly for investment and we have been very lucky on them. 

Jun 25, 2022 05:21 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I wish it were raining here. We are dealing with 98-degree temps. Please send your rain to San Jose. Thank you.

People invest in their home purchases. Hold it long enough and in a perfect world, there will be equity. 

Investors in real estate look for cash flow. If they can get that and ride the equity wave at the same time ... it's a great investment. 

Jun 25, 2022 04:58 PM
Rainmaker
911,328
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

People invest time and money into any homes. It's a balancing act. I know many people that spend way too much in upgrades and improvements, but they do it because they want to enjoy their home while they're living there, and aren't concerned about what they can sell it for down the road.

Jun 25, 2022 04:05 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Yes in that sense!

Jun 25, 2022 03:24 PM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Yes.

Jun 25, 2022 03:21 PM
Rainmaker
547,327
Steven Nickens
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
R(S)GRI ABR, Maui Real Estate Hawaii

I would hope so. but then again it depends on which side of the market your looking at.

Jun 25, 2022 01:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes I agree. 

Jun 25, 2022 12:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

110 today with full sun on the Beautiful Colorado River, yep real estate is an investment regardless of whether you are an owner user or landlord! Of course for tax and financial purposes the definitions are not the same . . . 

Jun 25, 2022 11:17 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

There is no hope but surety if one buys Real estate either at the right time or for a long term invest. YOU will make money! Amazing this third leg of a three-legged economic stool this Real Estate is. While waiting for the equity/appreciation/gain, one has what they call a HOME, and we all agree there is no place like it. Even if it roller-coasters, it comes back faithful

Jun 25, 2022 11:09 AM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Some buy without any intention of selling, just want a stable place to live, others plan to sell at a profit. 

Jun 25, 2022 04:33 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

In my opinion, the answer is mostly No. They are purchasing a home, not an investment. We've lived in our home for 36 years and never had any intention for selling it.

Jun 27, 2022 06:03 AM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I would consider a home an investment. I wouldn't consider a typical homeowner an investor. I do remind buyers that it is an investment. 

Jun 26, 2022 06:38 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,482
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

In the last four years, if you bought a home, it has almost doubled here in Denver.

Jun 26, 2022 05:57 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

For most, it is their biggest piggy bank where inflation is their friend. Some raid the piggy bank and some do not!

Jun 26, 2022 05:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,746,165
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

No.  Believe it or not, some people buy a home to live in for generations.  It's about the security and freedom, not about the money.

Jun 25, 2022 08:06 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Homeowners are not INVESTORS for two reasons:
1. They purchased for shelter.
2. They are occupant owners meaning they get the tax benefits not available to INVESTORS.
I do admit, it makes one feel like and investor when money falls in their lap.

Jun 27, 2022 04:57 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Yes, a home can be viewed as an investment. 

Jun 26, 2022 12:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes, whether they know it or not!  Buying a home and putting down roots is always an investment.  One in the house, one in the community, one in your family, one in your neighborhood, and one in America.

Jun 26, 2022 10:06 AM