Middle Class And Minority Families - 1408 Words

More middle class and minority families than ever are now underwater in their mortgages, and have zero to negative wealth after the Great Recession that followed the 2000 housing boom (Potts 7). Even those who kept their homes saw their values drop due to the declined neighborhood worth. My childhood home’s peak value was over $200,000, but my parents listed it on the market with the hope of selling for just $175,000 when they wanted to move to lower their mortgage. There were never any foreclosures in our neighborhood, the house is in one of the best school systems in the state, and it had a great location, yet the value dropped more significantly than it had in twenty years. This was a situation many homeowners didn’t know was possible†¦show more content†¦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 â€Å"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. First, everyone who has bought a house themselves, or has been near the process of home buying, knows that first time home buyers make mistakes. They get wrapped up in the charm of a house while failing to notice issues, and failing to notice even minor issues can have very costly consequences. For many of the victims of subprime lending this was their first time being able to purchase a house which likely made them become wrapped in the emotions of home buying. Rather than, looking at the houses and prices