And this why we're friends. :-)

A mortgage for all intents and purposes is a wonky way of trying to invest and save money given the high costs, maintenance, and property taxes. Homes for all intents and purposes are for consumption, and we buy them because we have more freedom to decorate and renovate as we see fit within legal regulations compared to apartments. The only difference is that unlike most consumer goods, you can get some of your money back (in theory) when you sell.