With all due respect I am not sure how you can write this with a straight face. You premise is that "something that last long can't possibly not appreciate"?? I am sure you can find myriad of examples where this simply does not hold water.
The housing is artificially inflated and you are one administration away (e.g. see current one for the kind of power we experience in 'democracy') from having your "investment" worth a lot less than you think it is. Why do you think you and I are able to deduct mortgage interest but when I charge my credit card for gambling, hookers and cocaine (a lot more enjoyable than housing) I am unable to deduct my 29.99% interest on my Visa?! What about "villas for 1 euro" that you can buy throughout say Italy? some of them are older than our country is and I am not sure you'd be happy with your "investment" if you bought it in 1999 but you know, "something that last that long can't possibly not appreciate, right?!"