You buy the neighborhood with the price of a home (in theory). Invested neighbors keep appearances up, elect good leaders, push for better schools etc. Once t

You buy the neighborhood with the price of a home (in theory). Invested neighbors keep appearances up, elect good leaders, push for better schools etc. Once the value starts dropping, none of that is necessarily a given. In my area once gorgeous suburbs became gang centers just a decade or two later. Not exactly a great thing given the recommended home stay for a starter home is about 5-7 years in order for you to "make your money back" should it even go up. Not to mention a lot of consumers view home ownership as the single largest investment they make, so they are sitting on their retirement.