<prompt> Human: BTW, this also is my first Reddit post after browsing on here for a long time.Im a first time homeowner within the last year, and need some advice on the financial sense of adding on a detached garage to my property.First, the basics: Im a 26 yr old single male, just bought my first house within the last year. Paid 120K for it, and put 70K down. Have about 42K left on my 15 yr 3.65 mortgage. I gross about 65K per year at my job that Ive been at for 9yrs, and currently have 54K in cash -- 38K in mutual fundsstocks and the rest an emergency savings account. House payment wtax and insurance is 525 per month, and I have no other debt. The house has a small detached garage not really big enough to park a car in which needs a new roof, and a nasty looking carport attached to the back of the house. The driveway is really narrow, and as currently constructed you cant get two cars past each other -- so if someone comes over and gets parked in, its a real problem. My idea was to demolish the carport and the existing garage, and build a new 24x30 2 car garage in my backyard. Would give me nice room to park vehicles, store lawnmower, and would get rid of the nasty looking carport and open the back of my house -- overall would look great, I think, and I would get great use out of it. It would also solve my whole problem with people getting parked in when they come to my house. I got quotes for the demolition and the adding of the garage along wcost of pouring a concrete pad behind the house running up to the garage, and its coming back alot higher than I expected: 37K on the low side, 46K on the high side. So the question I have is -- does it make financial sense to put 40K into a garage with my current cash structure and debt I have on my house? Most of the properties in my neighborhood sell for between 120-150K, and most have some type of garage, though often just a single car garage. I figure I could get 50 of what I put into the garage out of the place when I sell -- but I could be way off on that. The house is old, built in 1929, and sits on less than an acre, but overall is in good shape.I dont know how long Ill own the place, but dont have any plans to sell in the next 5 yrs unless something crazy happens.Any input from anyone?  <response>: Home improvements shouldnt be viewed directly as investments. They are decisions made to live your life in a manner you feel comfortable. Having grown up in an area with snow I detest detached garages with the power of a 1,000 suns which never shine in winter. However youve been a good boy, are gainfully employed and would retain an emergency fund. If you want a two car garage buy it. Just noticed no mention of an IRA or 401k, I think you have one because of how much house equity you have. But if you dont have a tax advantaged retirement vehicle set up yet do so. 