Does your conception of the American Dream including owning a home? There are tax benefits that accompany it, particularly the mortgage interest and property tax deductions.
You can also build up equity in a property over time through a mortgage: that is, over time you generally own more and more of your home and so you’ll have more money if you ever sell.
Also, when you sell, a certain amount of the sale will be tax-free (but that’s up to certain limits and other restrictions). Talk to your accountant for more!