Until your house is paid off, it isn't yours. It is owned by the bank. At any point, if you neglect to pay taxes, the house can be taken from you. If you are in a condo/homeowners association and neglect to pay dues, then your house can be taken from you. The worth of your house is arbitrary, and I do not agree with you when you say at any time you can sell the house and pay off the loan. If that were the case, then foreclosures would not exist. Until the point your house puts money into your pocket, it is a liability. My house has made me no money so far, therefore I consider it a liability.
I, too, hate it when people say things and don't know what they are talking about.