Yeah, that fake definition of assets and liabilities from Kiyosaki is, imo, a crock of you know what. An asset is something of value that you can sell. A liability is something you owe. Not all assets are good investments. A car is a great example. Its financial return is negative, so a bad investment. However, you can sell it and get paid, so it's an asset. The only reason to buy an asset that's a bad investment is if it provides you with a compelling benefit. Like not having to use nonexistent public transportation and not having to spend even more money on cabs or Ubers. Your primary residence is similar. It's not a great investment because on average its appreciation is likely less than the cost of ownership. However, if you add to that the (financial and other) value of not having to rent a house, the utility more than justifies it.