If you are in the same place for 5 years,
suppose you paid 100K together for the house.
sell it after 5 years, get 200K cash,earn 100K.

If you don't buy the house and live on rent housing, you may need to pay
5*12*(600)-considering the house is only 100K,let's get it cheaper.
$600/month for a house is cheaper enough?$36K. I would think $1000 or more be realistic. At least in my place. $600-700 for a 1-br old Apt.

Even if you live cheaper, you still need at least $15K for 5 years($250/month).
This may cover all your expenses for selling house and pay intrest and property tax.

So in all,
1. buying a house and live in it instead of paring rent can let you earn 100k cash if the price doubled. Plus you live much comfortable in a house than a APT.

2.And if you don't sell the house and stay in it.
well , it is still the same house, but If you buy the house now instead of 5 years ago you need to pay 200K.
Taht's an extra 100K, so buying early can save you 100K plus you save 5 years rent though you need to pay Tax+ interests.But you got some tax deduction for it.
a little.
Buying the the house definitely is not BaoZhi but get you money.

I know some friends they bot house several years ago, paid $300K
and now it worths $1300K now.
And they are puting it on market.

They bot another house in a better place but smaller for $700K now for their kids is going to kindergarden.
So now they get a $700K house for free + $300K cash + live in the old 5bd-house free for 7 years.

MM please have some finacial ideas!

And also some people bot house for $200K and now it raised to $400K in 3-4 years.

But real estate is tricky.I don't ecourage people buying expensive house now.