Home Ownership Remains the American Dream

Couldn't say it better myself!!!   Home Ownership will never fade as an asset/benefit to the American lifestyle and its related quality of life. 

Homeownership: Still the American Dream




by The KCM Crew on August 16, 2011 ·




For Buyers,For Sellers




ShareShare Yesterday, Fannie Mae released their National Housing Survey for the second quarter of 2011. They survey the American public on a multitude of questions concerning today’s housing market. Each quarter, we like to pull out some of the findings we deem most interesting. Here they are for the most recent report:






Most Important Reasons to Buy a Home


When we talk about homeownership today, it seems that the financial aspects always jump to the front of the discussion. However, the study shows that the four major reasons a person buys a home have nothing to do with money. The top four reasons, in order, are:

It means having a good place to raise children and provide them with a good education


You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe


It allows you to have more space for your family


It gives you control of what you do with your living space (renovations and updates)


The Home as an Investment


Though most people purchase a home for non-financial reasons, everyone realizes there is a money component to homeownership. Here is what they said on this issue:


65% of the general population (and 67% of homeowners) believe that homeownership is a ‘safe’ investment.


56% believe that homeownership has more potential as an investment than any other traditional asset class.


69% think that now is a good time to buy a home (this number has increased in each of the last two quarters)


Rent vs. Buy


We are always interested in the difference people see in renting vs. owning.


63% of renters have aspirations to someday own their own home


72% of renters think that owning is superior to renting


95% of homeowners see homeownership as a positive experience (4% see it as a negative experience) while 82% of renters see renting as a positive experience (17% see it as a negative experience)


96% of homeowners live in a single family residence while 46% of renters live in a multi-unit building


Bottom Line


Even in difficult times, Americans still realize the value of homeown