<prompt> Human: Am I above or below the curve? I live in the silicon valley, so rent is expensive as hell and houses are 700,000I make 51kyear, but hope to get something better soon It was my first job out of college and ive been there for 2 years but started at 40kyearAssistant: You dont need to own a house, its not a goal everyone needs to aim at. Human: Yep. Why would you want to pay property taxes, HOA fees, and additional costs if the water heater busts? Thats like thousands extra a month! For what, to say you own? By renting, I just hand over a check each month, and EVERYTHING is taken care of. I dont have to fix anything, I get a new water heater if it busts for free... there isnt a better living condition than that, aside from living with your parents lol.Assistant: I guess Ive been raised with the mentality that a house is a worthwhile investment. I was taught its like having your own bank, something you can invest into, and take money out of.  <response>: a personal house can barely be considered an investment. long-term appreciation shouldnt be the deciding factor on an investment, as there are many better alternatives to put that money. 