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What's So Great About Home Ownership?

US policy is stacked against renters— for no good reason

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 23, 2008 8:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – “Owning a home lies at the heart of the American Dream,” George W. Bush once said, and US policy certainly seems to agree with him. Mortgage interest is tax deductible, and government-sponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae provide cheap financing for home buyers. Why is that, asks Paul Krugman of the New York Times. Owning a home isn’t for everyone, so why should it be a policy goal?

There are real downsides to being a homeowner. Mortgages are financially risky propositions—just ask subprime borrowers. Owning a home also ties workers down, making them less likely to move even if their local job market goes sour. Homowners also tend to flock to the suburbs, where $4 gas can make commuting an expensive proposition. It’s time renters got a fair shake—and equal stake—in the “American Dream.”

Remax professional realtors preview a home for sale during a broker open house in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, May 16, 2008.
Remax professional realtors preview a home for sale during a broker open house in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, May 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
A house for sale is seen next to a sign advertising its new  price Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Tacoma, Wash.
A house for sale is seen next to a sign advertising its new price Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Tacoma, Wash.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Neighboring homes are seen next to a sign advertising a new sale price for a house Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Tacoma, Wash.
Neighboring homes are seen next to a sign advertising a new sale price for a house Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Tacoma, Wash.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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