What I'm a bit confused about when everyone uses these numbers of appreciation vs interest rate and comparing it to renting is that no one ever talks about the principle being paid off...

@Shiloh Lundahl I agree in principle.

After reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, I felt greatly upset with how much my foundation for understanding wealth and personal principles was challenged.

Instead, mistakenly they deposit $1000 and one day later they recapture $700.Again I have not had any money taken away that they had not refunded back , and yes it's rare, but it's the principle of having them access to my bank account to recapture money at will which is unacceptable.

Hi @Sunny Burns,The only expenses we actually consider are housing expenses (Principle, interest, prop taxes, homeowner's insurance, and HOA dues... rent, if applicable), things appearing on a credit report, and court orders (alimony, etc).

There are a million nuances and subcomponents to break down into a much more granular level, but the fundamental principles remain the same.  

Sometimes its just not worth fighting over principle.

Oh, and to your question on why principle reduction is not considered in my analysis... you can't eat equity.

The law exists to protect the public from predatory behavior, not to prevent them from voicing their experience or opinion.The Virginia Supreme Court defines the "practice of law" as: One is deemed to be practicing law whenever.(1) One undertakes for compensation, direct or indirect, to advise another not his regular employer, in any matter involving the application of legal principles to facts or purposes or desires.(2) One, other than as a regular employee acting for his employer, undertakes, with or without compensation, to prepare for another legal instruments of any character, other than notices or contract incident to regular course of conducting a licensed business(3) One undertakes, with or without compensation, to represent the interest of another before [a tribunal, as hereinafter defined in UPC 1-1,] otherwise than in the presentation of facts, figures, or factual conclusions, as distinguished from legal conclusions, by an employee regularly Ö employed on a salary basis, or by one specially employed as an expert in respect to such facts and figures when such presentation by such employee or expert does not involve the examination of witnesses or preparation of pleadings.Virginia UPL Opinion 48. http://www.vsb.org/site/regulation/virginia-upl-opinion-48So, don't advise people on the law for money, don't prepare legal documents and don't attempt to represent people in courts or tribunals in Virginia without a license and you're not breaking any laws.Indeed, the very purpose of this community is to advise each other.

Does this city follow the 'x' principle too?