Historically houses, in general, have never gained in value. Fixed for inflation.
A thirty year house, should no more be more valuable then a thirty year old car.
Hmmm, intesting perspective. My parents bought a new house in 1963 for 28k and my mother sold it in 92 for 212k. Are you saying that if they had bought a new car in 63 for say, 3,000 dollars it would have been worth $22,000 in 92?
I once told a professional real estate salesperson that she was wrong in saying that houses appreciate. At first she had a very condescending attitude, she was certain that I was a fool but I proceeded to prove to her that any increase in the value of a house and lot that was in excess of inflation ALWAYS represents an increase in the lot value, not the house itself. She wound up agreeing with me. Actually I could come up with a rare instance in which that would not be true but it would be a reach.
She was also dead set on the idea that buying a double wide mobile home was NEVER a good idea because the double wide depreciates while the site built house appreciates. I told her that if you bought and sold a site built house the way she was talking about buying and selling a double wide mobile home the double wide would come out being a far better investment. She wound up agreeing with me on that too.