5 ms·

I'm a home owner in the Western world and I don't consider myself a real estate speculator. I "bought" my house because I really, really liked it and wanted it

by hrunt 10y ago

I'm a home owner in the Western world and I don't consider myself a real estate speculator. I "bought" my house because I really, really liked it and wanted it to be my home for a very, very long time. Buying the house gives that a better chance of happening, as my payments will remain consistent and I get certain protections as a homeowner I wouldn't otherwise have. Whether I make money on it or not is immaterial to me as I don't plan to sell. While I'd like the value of the home to go down (taxes), it hasn't influenced my decision to stay in it -- so far. I think a lot of homeowners feel this way and aren't in way "speculators", but they're a non-vocal population. By the way, I put "bought" in quotes because it often seems like I'm renting it from the state.

shostack 10y ago
Meanwhile most Americans first home purchase, if they can even afford one, is not their forever home. Due to all the handouts to banks through the mortgage industry that have in part caused house prices to go up like they have (ie. QE), many first time buyers have to leverage themselves to the hilt for their first underwhelming home in order to hopefully one day sell for enough to let them ladder up to a nice home. People would much rather own their forever home and not have to worry about selling at some point like you, but that just isn't the reality for most. So speculation is almost forced in the sense that if you want to own your forever home at some point, you have to play the leverage game.