How many of you still believe that buying a home is still the American dream. Do you still think that it is a measure of success or arrival. I don't. Although I own a home and have owned up to three at one time AND I have profited, I'm not so sure that it is the only successful dream in America. I was not seeking out three homes, the opportunities were before me, so I moved forward. They were profitable, but are there other ways that are just as profitable like insured investments? What do you think? I see a pattern with the housing market. About every 15 to 20 years it crashes. The prices start to creep up again, getting out of control...crash...then the cycle starts again. What do you think?
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I'm not really interested in owning a home. I know that's not a good idea but I think that actually owning a home and paying taxes and maintenance on it would be a hassle, especially since you mention the crashes that happen every 20 years or so. I like renting, and I think I'll stick with that for awhile instead. If a good deal comes along I will probably guy one, but I doubt it.
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I don't know if owning a home is the American dream anymore. I think a lot of people are just more interested today in survival. Housing costs are so high that many younger couples don't have an opportunity to buy a home so are forced to pay rent and develop absolutely no equity. These same couples also don't have time to enjoy the dream.
It used to be the dream to do better than your parents id and for your kids to do better than you. I don't see that happening either. Look at salaries and the cost of living.
I think that just having a job and a stable environment is achieving success nowadays.
It used to be the dream to do better than your parents id and for your kids to do better than you. I don't see that happening either. Look at salaries and the cost of living.
I think that just having a job and a stable environment is achieving success nowadays.
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Every year is harder to fallow the dream that one has. Cost of life is getting bigger and bigger. I'm not sure that American Dream any more is just to by house. Many are not able to do this. To keep a job and to feed a family (if you have one) is a great thing today.
Dan has a point, it really has been a dread that you do better then your parents, and your children do better then you. Today it is much different.
Dan has a point, it really has been a dread that you do better then your parents, and your children do better then you. Today it is much different.
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Great and interesting perspectives. Again, I agree. My son also feels the pressure to do better than his mom, and in todays "market" that is really hard. Banks tightening up on school loans; the housing market. I still think he feels some self-imposed pressure. Thanks for bringing that up dark_red. I'm glad I'm not the only one with this view. We strive for imaginary success benchmarks that aren't really important in the big picture.
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At least real estate is a solid investment. If you buy it at a good price I do not see how you can go wrong. Sure the real estate market has been on a down slide but it usually tends to take a turn up making it profitable.
We have lost enough money in the markets that we could have built our dream home....boo hiss! We own quite a few investment properties that we have contracted out. The area that we live in hasn't had a terrific real estate slide like some other places. It has been a very profitable business making 8-10percent on the contracts.
I think owning a home ( I owned mine at 35) has been the best thing I have ever done. It's truly wonderful not having a constant house payment or rental payment and knowing that I will always have a roof over my head no matter how terrible the economy is. Sure I have to pay taxes but believe it or not, for now they continue to go down. As for insurance....as with all insurances they continue to go up but if you rent a house you still should have renter's insurance.
As for the American Dream...I'm not sure but it sure makes you proud when you can stand back and look at an actual object for all of your hard work. In my case my "hard work" investment has more than trippled in price even in the unstable real estate market.
We have lost enough money in the markets that we could have built our dream home....boo hiss! We own quite a few investment properties that we have contracted out. The area that we live in hasn't had a terrific real estate slide like some other places. It has been a very profitable business making 8-10percent on the contracts.
I think owning a home ( I owned mine at 35) has been the best thing I have ever done. It's truly wonderful not having a constant house payment or rental payment and knowing that I will always have a roof over my head no matter how terrible the economy is. Sure I have to pay taxes but believe it or not, for now they continue to go down. As for insurance....as with all insurances they continue to go up but if you rent a house you still should have renter's insurance.
As for the American Dream...I'm not sure but it sure makes you proud when you can stand back and look at an actual object for all of your hard work. In my case my "hard work" investment has more than trippled in price even in the unstable real estate market.
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