Home owner here. I feel lucky to have been able to (barely) qualify for a loan when I did and buy a home. We now live overseas and rent it. It’s been a huge hel

Home owner here. I feel lucky to have been able to (barely) qualify for a loan when I did and buy a home. We now live overseas and rent it. It’s been a huge help to us knowing that it’s there growing in value. I’m also for governments using my property taxes and other taxes to pay for Or subsidize more housing, even affordable housing, even if it might lower the price for my home if it helps the community out. Being able to have something that’s yours (yes, yes, I know it’s not truly yours until you pay off the bank note...) is a huge boost to my confidence. When we lived there we made improvements, were involved in the community, supported local business and such. I liked knowing the only thing that could raise my monthly mortgage payment was a rise in the assessed property value or a jump in my insurance premium. That peace-of-mind is a huge asset when budgeting. It’s also something one can borrow against to consolidate loans or start a business.