Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Not exactly. Rent isn't debt; it's an expense. Even though you are making a net profit on your real estate, the bank (or other lender) is making money on your debt--the mortgage--through the interest expense you must pay on it.

Here's a comparison of what I mean:

Person A: Has a credit card balance of $1,000.
Person B: Has a government-issued bond worth $1,000, such as a Canada Savings Bond.

Person A is paying interest expense to the credit card company.
Person B is earning interest from the government.

The credit card company is earning an income on Person A's debt.
Person B is earning an income on the government's debt.

I want to be more like Person B, but, for now, I'm Person A.