Wrong. Housing appreciation is only a reflection of market demand -- i.e. more people equals more willing buyers. Go to an area that is losing population or has a stagnant population, and home prices do not appreciate in real dollars, and sometimes do not even keep up with inflation, no matter how much you take care of that home. Go to a high growth area, and a falling down shack that has never been maintained grows in value just as fast as a well cared for house.
The amazing thing to me is that gas prices, when measured for inflation, are about the same as they were 50 years ago while we have more than twice as many cars on the road and those cars are on average logging nearly twices as many miles driven per year as the average car did 50 years ago. It's the oil industry, not some assclown politician or consumer advocate that have invested billions to explore, transport, refine and deliver that fuel that has allowed prices to remain so low in real terms.
In the area where I am from, the homes ARE taken care of and APPRECIATE in value. 10 years ago, these homes were new and cost $150,000 to $275,000. Now you cannot buy in here for under $350,000 because we all take pride in our homes. Not everybody lives in a stagnantly populated area just as not everyone lives in a well kept area. If I had bought my home in a sewer like some of New Orleans, I would not expect it to appreciate in value. You missed my point completely.