It's funny you mention automobiles, because nobody buys automobiles as a means of investment (since they lose a ton of value quickly).

As a useful durable good, sure houses have value, but renting accomplishes the same purpose (of giving you a place to live).

I wasn't being sarcastic. That was my point: houses are a durable good, which means they're not an investment at all and shouldn't be treated as such.

i think he was being sarcastic

Really some houses are built to last :-) I was looking to buy a place (before I got made redundant) built in the 1790's (Listed building mentioned in peveinser no less) and the farmhouse next to my parents house is 1500's/1600's John Bunyan preached there back in the day