My Dreams To Own My Own Home

However, hope might be on the horizon for the victims of the mortgage disaster of 2007/2008. Home buyers who were foreclosed upon years ago, or boomerang buyers, are beginning to be eligible to buy homes again. While some feel hope after feeling bamboozled by lenders and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, some feel anxious and fearful of the thought of buying again. Yet there are lessons that have been learned by the mortgage meltdown. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provided a lesson for the

For many years, the idea that ones’ home being the largest investment was said as a complete sentence when in fact, it was only an incomplete sentence. Any duly licensed financial planner would finish that sentence by saying all investments are subject to market conditions, the value that investment could increase or decrease and other similar cautionary statements that their attorneys wrote to protect them. The American public only heard that their home was the largest investment and had never experienced, nor had their parents seen the value of their personal homes drop like they did in the past few years. They had never experienced the financial pain and although only a few years have passed, many have forgotten and are ready to jump right back into homeownership.

The housing crisis of the late 2000s rocked the economy and changed the landscape of the real estate business for years to come. Decades of people purchasing houses unfordable houses and properties with lenient loans policies led to a collective housing bubble. When the banking system faltered and the economy wilted, interest rates were raised, mortgages increased, and people lost their jobs amidst the chaos. This all culminated in tens of thousands of American losing their houses to foreclosures and short sales, as they could no longer afford the mortgage payments on their homes. The United States entered a recession and homeownership no longer appeared to be a feasible goal as many questioned whether the country could continue to support a middle-class. Former home owners became renters and in some cases homeless as the American Dream was delayed with no foreseeable return. While the future of the economy looked bleak, conditions gradually improved. American citizens regained their jobs, the United States government bailed out the banking industry, and regulations were put in place to deter such events as the mortgage crash from ever taking place again. The path to homeowner ship has been forever altered, as loans in general are now more difficult to acquire and can be accompanied by a substantial down payment.

The American dream is all about stability. Owning a home, having a well-paying job, a yearly vacation and children are stages of the American dream. Above all of them, owning a house is the most important because that means one is secure and stable. My auntie, Evelyn, had reached the biggest stage of the American dream: owning a house. After hearing the good news my family and I planned to visit her and see the new house, but it was too late before we got see her new house: the value of her house dramatically decrease and my auntie was forsaken. So, she decided to let the bank take her house instead of making the house payments. Just like my auntie, Evelyn, many American families were affected by the financial crisis in 2007-2008. Although the financial crisis was a horrific experience, there are some positive aspects.

In 2008 the real estate market crashed because of the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act and Commodities Futures Modernization Act, which led to shady mortgage lending or “liar loans” (Hartman). The loans primarily approved for lower income and middle class borrowers with little income or no job income verification, which lead to many buyers purchasing homes they could not afford because everyone wants a piece of the American dream; homeownership. Because of “reckless lending to lower- and middle-income borrowers who could not afford to repay their loans many of the home buyers lost everything when the market collapsed” (Tankersley 3). Homeowners often continued to live in their houses for months or years without paying any

The typical series of big events in life include graduating high school, going to college, finding a significant other, graduating college, getting married, and buying a home. Although these events happen in a variety of different patterns nowadays, a major bump in the road is occurring when looking to buy a home, especially in Colorado Springs. This article highlighted the challenges that the millennial generation is facing when reaching this stage in life. "Student loan debt is more than $1.2 trillion, and nearly 70 percent of college graduates have some student loan debt, according to the Federal Reserve (pg 1)." These college graduates now need to add loan payments to their monthly debts, leaving them with even less disposable income. Not

The desire for home ownership is something embedded in our DNA. Claiming property and owning a house is a critical part of the “American Dream.” Home ownership represents more than just a place to rest your head at night. Your home is the environment that serves as a setting for your journey through life. It’s the place of your children’s first steps, family birthdays, barbeques, amongst many other significant events. Your home is the backdrop that describes you and your family. Although many American’s were financially hurt by the trillions lost in the home equity market during the housing bubble, there is and will always be a desire to own a home. The most vital part is that American’s who lost their homes during the crash, learn from their past, so that they do not repeat a foreclosure.

For decades Americans couldn’t help but rejoice when they were able to own their very own home. The image of holding the keys and to quickly step foot into their home provided Americans with visons of prosperity. Many Americans whether poor, middle-class, or wealthy could now dream of endless possibilities when owning their very own home, as well as embracing a sense of accomplishment. These accomplishments or feelings were great at first; however, the realty for some Americans was that behind the glitz and glamor was a ticking time bomb. Now imagine the United States of America flourishing in the real estate sector and the US economy from Wall Street to individuals benefiting from the booming housing market. However, while all this was

FDR’s affordable housing initiative was responsible for the rapid expansion of home ownership throughout the United States (Allen and Barth, 2012). This was accomplished in part through the creation of The Federal National Mortgage Association, which provided affordable low down payment mortgages extended over a 30-year period of time. Over the past several decades the United States economic policy has been to encourage home ownership (Bluhm, Overbeck and Wagner, 2010).

Until every home loses value, buying a home will continue to be a good investment for those who can’t buy stocks or bonds. Purchasing my home was a huge milestone in my life as well as an investment I could make for my future. Adalberto Aguirre also believes that “For many Americans, homeownership is synonymous with success, independence, and the achievement of the American Dream.” Homeownership is seen as a pathway to aspects of the American dream; for instance, the ability to pay for a college education, providing start-up capital for a family business, or funding retirement plans (6). Owning a home, like earning a college education, is something I thought we are all supposed to want for ourselves, friends, and family. Helping others attain the American Dream certainly took a backseat to profits in the minds of many mortgage brokers and lenders during the 2000 housing boom.

Record high unemployment, declining home values, and a recessionary climate have plunged the housing industry into a downward spiral. It started with lenient mortgage guidelines that allowed millions of people to achieve the American Dream of owning their own home. Eventually they ended up living beyond their means. Adjustable rate mortgages came due and realizing that they could not afford the jump in mortgage payment, homeowners began to put their homes up for sale. There weren’t enough buyers to keep up with the supply, and mortgages began to go into default. Families across America were faced with the reality that they could no longer afford to keep their homes, and foreclosures began to flood the market, leading the nation into a

Until every home loses value, buying a home will continue to be a prudent investment for those who can’t buy stocks or bonds. Purchasing my home was a major milestone in my life as well as an investment I could make for my future. Adalberto Aguirre believes that “For many Americans, homeownership is synonymous with success, independence, and the achievement of the American Dream.” Homeownership is seen as a pathway to aspects of the American dream; for instance, the ability to pay for a college education, providing start-up capital for a family business, or funding retirement plans (Aguirre 6). Owning a home, like earning a college education, is something I thought was supposed to be coveted for not only ourselves, but also for our friends and family. Helping others attain the American Dream certainly took a backseat to profits in the minds of countless mortgage brokers and lenders during the 2000 housing boom.

Brooklyn, NY – December 30, 2009 Foreclosures continue to rise drastically across the United States due to the recession, and have effected, and continue to affect thousands of families and individuals every day. One aspect we must take into consideration is that most people are not informed of what foreclosure means, or the process, even those who are homeowners. I believe that one step to preventing foreclosure is to educate first-time homebuyers. In addition, first-time homebuyer programs should not only assist potential buyers with financially preparing them to buy a home, but to keep the home once

The information has already been provided that sense the the housing market crashed people in general have been apprehensive to purchase homes. But even more so to the new generation of millennials. And even current events are shaping the future of home ownership, like the new revision on taxes. So does most certainly understandable to why people would be so wary of the dangers, and struggles of buying a home. And how it might be all together easier not to buy one.

Establish Credibility: According to US News, the great American dream of owning a home appears poised for a comeback. Real estate company Trulia reports that in many parts of the country, rents are rising while housing prices are falling, making buying a home more affordable. Trulia found that in 98 out of 100 major metropolitan areas, including Detroit, Atlanta, and Cleveland, buying has become more affordable than renting.” I think the mortgage catastrophe of 2001 left prospective home buyers afraid of buying a house without being extremely certain that is the right decision.