While you may buy a home to shelter your family, your housing dollars buy more than just shelter. A home can be a good long-term investment if your equity increases.
Home equity is the difference between a house's current value and any outstanding mortgages.
Home ownership can reduce your income taxes. And, if the house is in good condition, home ownership can stabilize your housing costs. The equity you have in your house will reflect any growth in the value of your home. The down payment you make may provide you with some initial equity. You can influence but you cannot control changes in equity.