If you buy a home for $100,000 Mortgage, Insurance & Taxes costs you $1,000 a month Your Mortgage interest rate is 4% and you had a down payment of $3,000 It costs you roughly $3,000 a year for maintenance and upkeep. You sell your home after 5 years for $106,000 Was your home an asset or liability? How much do you still owe on the mortgage after 5 years? How much did you spend out of pocket over the 5 years? How much will you pay in capital gains taxes (assuming that you do not purchase another home)? How much do you walk away with after 5yrs?