Changing Views

Everett_Tom

I read the SREP blog, mainly for humor, but came across this comment recently.

....

This year I've run into a new trend with buyers. They tell me they don't talk about buying a house with their co-workers, and certain friends, because they know they will be subjected to criticism for simply wanting to buy a home. Wow. What a sorry state of things when others can't simply be happy that someone is pursuing a goal they find worthy -- that somehow their life decisions have become fodder for criticism.

...

-- Leanne Finley

I know Leanne didn't like it, but I took heart in it, as it appears that the common view is not as strong as it was that home buying is a way to wealth. Though, it's probably not healthy to swing to the "never ever buy a home" either..

Anyone else seeing examples of this?

WestSideBilly

I've had a few people consult with me about buying a house in the last 6 months, and they were generally a lot more realistic in 2009 than most people were in 2006 or 2007 when I first moved here. But none of them mentioned being openly criticized for wanting to buy a house.

The_Tim

Leanne Finley wrote:

This year I've run into a new trend with buyers. They tell me they don't talk about buying a house with their co-workers, and certain friends, because they know they will be subjected to criticism for simply wanting to buy a home. Wow. What a sorry state of things when others can't simply be happy that someone is pursuing a goal they find worthy -- that somehow their life decisions have become fodder for criticism.

Now maybe she can imagine how people who didn't jump head-first into the home-buying mania in 2004-2006 felt.

For years cautious and patient potential homebuyers were almost universally treated like economic idiots for not buying the line that taking out an enormous loan in order to get your hands on a grossly overpriced home was some sort of magic ticket to instant wealth.