Many people compare buying a Home to buying a car.  In some ways it’s accurate as both represent a basic life need and you are looking to get quality and bang for your buck, but that’s where the similarities end.  When you buy a “new” house it immediately appreciates in value while a new car depreciates as soon as you drive it off the lot.  The newly built home offers tax refunds for energy efficient items used in the house, the car does not.  With a new home you save money on utilities with energy efficient products such as windows and insulation. With a car you pour money from your pockets into a gas tank on a consistent basis.  Really when you look at it there’s very little that’s truly similar between buying a home and buying a car.