No data to back it up at the moment but I am pretty sure that home ownership has historically been a big wealth builder for the middle class. It historically ha

No data to back it up at the moment but I am pretty sure that home ownership has historically been a big wealth builder for the middle class. It historically has allowed people to use leverage on a fairly stable asset, while doubling as a hedge against rent. Now this is of course excluding 2008 and whatever has happened in the last 3 years(more institutional investment in residential real estate).