Once

Once, from 1908 to 1940
to be precise, you could order
an entire large home from the Sears,
Roebuck & Co. mail-order catalog
and end up with an impressive abode
boasting oak floors, cypress siding
and cedar shingles. These homes
which sold for between $600 and $6000
will often sell in the millions.

Now, you can order your entire personality
from the internet. But you will usually end up
with a slightly less-than-impressive abode.
The materials provided are usually shoddy
and the design is usually flash-in-the-pan
rather than classic. It seems a little unrealistic
to expect a huge appreciation on your investment
over time.