Home ownership is a great thing.  There is nothing like having your own patch and a deed to go with it, but a home you occupy should not be considered an investment.  This is exactly the point David is making in his article.

Most everyone has always promoted home ownership as an investment and this will probably continue despite the set backs that idea has in the last few years.

While people do make money on owner occupied properties they are still a habitat for the owner occupant which limits choices.  This limits the possible choices a buyer can make since buying an owner occupied home means that your personal preferences for they style, size and location will prevail, often above those of what a good investments property would be. 

Separating home ownership from real estate investing frees you to place your investment money where it will make a better return.  David also makes an important point that when a rent vs buy decision is made, real estate as an investment, should not be in the mix, especially if it comes at a cost of the buyer's lifestyle, like having to live in a location the you would otherwise not live. 

If your making the decision to buy a home as an investment have another look.  Consider that it's possible to get better financing for owner occupied homes.  In this case you could put less money down on a home the you want to live in and put in the higher down-payment on an investment elsewhere or instead of buying for your self, continue renting and living where you like and put the investment money into a property which has a better chance of cash-flowing, appreciation or a combination of the two.

Each situation is different so I won't go into scenarios here but it would be wise to discuss you options with a professional before you make a purchase, especially if you're buying investment real estate.  Contact us to make an appointment.