LIES WE ARE TOLD ABOUT REAL ESTATE. In the long run, of course, it can’t be cheaper to rent than to buy, or landlords would go out of the business. But my favorite was on HGTV’s bubble-era My House Is Worth What? where any appreciation was called “profit” even if it was less than the real estate commission you’d pay if you sold it. A 3% gain subject to a 6% commission isn’t a profit. Then there are taxes, upkeep, etc. . .