5。　The　greatest　losses　of　all　are　those　from　missed　opportunities。 If　all　your　money　is　tied　up　in　your　house；　you　may　be　forced　to　work　harder　because　your　money　continues　blowing　out　of　the　expense　column；　instead　of　adding　to　the　asset　column；　the　classic　middle　class　cash　flow　pattern。　If　a　young　couple　would　put　more　money　into　their　asset　column　early　on；　their　later　years　would　get　easier；　especially　as　they　prepared　to　send　their　children　to　college。　Their　assets　would　have　grown　and　would　be　available　to　help　cover　expenses。　All　too　often；　a　house　only　serves　as　a　vehicle　for　incurring　a　home…equity　loan　to　pay　for　mounting　expenses。　In　summary；　the　end　result　in　making　a　decision　to　own　a　house　that　is　too　expensive　in　lieu　of　starting　an　investment　portfolio　early　on　impacts　an　individual　in　at　least　the　following　three　ways：

1。　Loss　of　time；　during　which　other　assets　could　have　grown　in　value。

2。　Loss　of　additional　capital；　which　could　have　been　invested　instead　of　paying　for　high…maintenance　expenses　related　directly　to　the　home。

3。　Loss　of　education。　Too　often；　people　count　their　house；　savings　and　retirement　plan　as　all　they　have　in　their　asset　column。　Because　they　have　no　money　to　invest；　they　simply　do　not　invest。　This　costs　them　investment　experience。 Most　never　bee　what　the　investment　world　calls　a　〃sophisticated　investor。〃　And　the　best　investments　are　usually　first　sold　to　〃sophisticated　investors；〃　who　then　turn　around　and　s