You might want to look at the money you spent on rent. It should probably be added to the cost of the home with interest forgone.
The cash in the form of loans a business pays for capitol is expected to be less than what the business profits. The capital can be depreciated and end up as an asset.
I know you said "credit is not evil" but then you turn around and vilify it's source. I'm not defending financial institutions, just looking at the role they play in an economy.