As a home owner I don't really care about number go up. I'd rather it go up than down, sure. But staying level would also suit me fine.

Going down might be nice, perhaps I could buy the neighbor's house and combine the lots and make a nice set of row houses ...

House go up being important is really only needed if I'm using it for leveraged appreciation and doing something like dragging the cash out like a piggy bank; but that's a tiger that will have to be dismounted eventually.