Folks, if you sell your home you may be able to make a gain off of it. Where will you live, though? If you rent, it cineonuts to become more expensive for you to own a home. If you buy another home, you'll likely buy something similar or better.Ways that I can think of where your principal residence is an investment:1. You move from a high value area say inner city San Diego to low density area Kenmare, North Dakota.2. You are a carpenter/contractor and you buy an older home, live in it while you fix it up, then turn it around and sell it.3. You pass on. Leaving your home as an asset to you children.The problem is that you always need some place to live. You can rent or you can buy. Sometimes its better to rent but usually you want to buy a home as early as you can to avoid the long term increase in values.