America is changing fast and I suspect that people's needs in housing will reflect the changes yet to come. Keeping up with the Jones' has proven to be a disaster in many cases. And when the dust finally settles, maybe people will clearly see the advantages of living within their budgets. Fuel costs will continue to go up it seems, as will inflation. What's a person to do to live comfortably and within their means?

Given the fact, that I once had 3 children at home and a full time job, I find myself sympathizing with the young families in America today trying to make ends meet. Equally, I can identify with the elderly that have watched their retirements dwindle rather than grow due to no fault of their own. And since, I have been in the housing industry in excess of 23 years, I have witnessed many of the homes being built in the 1990's and into the 21st Century. I went straight from college to a job designing roof trusses (which I did for 19 years) and was doing one truss take off after the other. Business was booming and the homes I was designing trusses for were huge for the most part. It was beyond me as to how so many people could not only afford the mortgage payments and the expenses of upkeep and utilities for such large elegant homes, but then be able to afford food, clothing, childcare and so on ... I must say, it left me envious that so many people had all of that money to afford such luxuries. Evidently, they did not.

Of course the banks were pushing people to borrow, and many mortgage brokers were brilliant in their manipulation of loans, making it possible for people to buy beyond their means. It was incredible as to how creative their loan terms actually were; 40 years, interest only, no money down .... "We'll make it happen for you", they chanted as their valued customer's sold their futures to enslavement to impress their neighbors. Deep down, most of us yearn for the beautiful things in life. Nothing wrong with that.

However, a mortgage owed to the bank means that the bank is the real owner of your home until that last mortgage payment is made. They can step in and take 'their' house if hard times hit. This has become apparent to millions of people in recent years and thus is the reason, I suspect that attitudes will change. For some, it will be out of necessity that they downsize their living arrangements, and for others peace of mind will be the motivating factor to encourage less lavish housing. Every one has their own reason for living as they do.

The bottom line is that we all need a home. It is just a question of who owns it; The bank or you? Personally, I look forward to the day when the answer to that question is me.