If you fought in WW2 and came back, there was a massive boom of affordable housing across the nation. It grew in the 1950s and 1960s, when wages were growing. B

If you fought in WW2 and came back, there was a massive boom of affordable housing across the nation. It grew in the 1950s and 1960s, when wages were growing. Between those who bought 30+ years ago (and didn't refinance every 5 years) + those families who passed their real estate down in their inheritance, I can easily see that being a large percentage of the population. The fact that they are in the bottom 20% of income seems less relevant. If you are in/near retirement or simply underemployed, owning your home means you have to work less to cover your costs.