The more you hear something, the more likely you are to believe it.

But this is one thing I want to debunk, like ASAP. Your first home is absolutely an investment. When I think of how much I endured during my first home buying process, I remember why real estate and home ownership is so coveted in this country. If it were easy, everyone would have a home. If it wasn’t so important, the government and racists wouldn’t have implemented predatory lending, redlining or even the slums.

There’s a reason why there’s a lack of education/knowledge around first-time home buying. Everything I learned, I had to learn through experience and I would never want anyone to walk in blindly the way I did.

It’s an investment, and it’s not going anywhere. In fact, if done right, it could serve as an asset for your future generations.

The #1 reason that it’s an investment is because there are wins you can collect as a homeowner that renters can not. These come in the form of tax write offs (such as a portion of your mortgage interest or property taxes being deducted).

The #2 reason is because it helps you build equity. Now granted, equity isn’t a guarantee. How you manage the home and how the property surrounding yours is very important. But this is why education and the right team are so crucial. My grandparents purchased our family home before I was born and my mom (+her siblings) just sold it like two years ago. They sold it for more than it was originally for and she used a portion of her earnings to help me pay off my student loan debt. That is the power of generational wealth and smart investments.

The #3 reason is because the home you buy, will more than likely NOT be your last. I did a poll on Instagram this weekend and asked my audience if they would stay in their first home forever. 70% of them said no which made me happy. This showed me that they have a plan. A plan to stay for a while, refinance and then rent out. Or, to stay for a while, build equity and then sell. Whichever path you choose, is based on your goals. But tenants = rental income and selling hopefully = earnings.

That’s why I created Ready To Own, my 100+ page workbook for first-time homebuyers. Everything I learned, I had to learn through experience and I would never want anyone to walk in blindly the way I did. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be to ask the right questions, find the right realtor/lender for you, locate a home with your needs on display (vs. what society tells you is important), improve your credit/debt scenario so that you aren’t limited in your home search or purchase amount and so much more.

So the next time someone tells you that your home isn’t an investment, hit them with these facts.