Love's Real Stories

No fair. Housing has been getting a bad rap, accused of crashing the U.S. economy. But Housing was just along for the ride. Financing was the one behind the wheel. Financing was all hopped up on cash, and drunk on power. Financing fell in with a bad crowd, and was dealing in contraband called “sub-prime loans.” The crowd that Financing became associated with were high-rise wise-guys and the more infamous gang-bangers from Wall Street.

Financing was moving fast and dealing fast, and throwing money around like it was going out of style. It was, as it turns out. Sub-prime loans led to toxic assets, and Financing spun out of control. Unfortunately, Housing’s fate was intertwined with Financing’s.

In the aftermath of the fast times and the ultimate crash, Housing’s reputation has suffered. It’s become fashionable in the gossip circles to blame Housing, and the worst of the blamers are saying Housing can’t be trusted anymore. Mind you, this is the same Housing that has helped generations of young people get a start in life, supported families and communities, and helped little old ladies cross the street.

Since Housing has been down, the blamers have been piling on, seemingly determined to create a whirlwind of negative spin to blow away Housing’s renown as the leader of the American Dream.

Is the blame game working?

The Pew Research Center conducted a survey to find out. Pew staff published a report of its findings, titled “Home Sweet Home. Still.” The report begins this way:

“The five-year swoon in home prices has done little to shake the confidence of the American public in the investment value of (Housing). Fully eight-in-ten (81%) adults agree that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make, according to our nationwide survey of 2,142 adults conducted from March 15 to March 29, 2011.“

Friends of Housing are adamant in their support, and quick to call out the blamers, too.

“It’s not Housing’s fault. The people who are blaming real estate for our problems are idiots!” says a survey respondent, “Wall Street crooks took advantage of loose Financing morals and pumped every dime out of the market until it collapsed.”

“There is nothing wrong with Housing,” says another, “The problem we’ve had is with Financing. Loans were made to people who couldn’t afford them, and we’re all paying for it.”

Housing still has a ways to go to instill confidence, create the reputation once enjoyed, and walk with head held high. But “That day is coming,” says Jack Mature, appraiser with 25 years of experience, “Housing may stumble from time to time but always straightens back up.”

What about Financing? Can the recent fall from grace be redeemed? The good news is that Financing has undergone treatment and is back on the straight and narrow. No more wild sprees or out of control rampages. Financing is associated with a sober and structured crowd now, and doing much better.

Housing has taken the high road and forgiven Financing for bygone transgressions. For that, and for so many great deeds of the past, Housing is worthy of our respect and our investment in friendship. And even as a life-long companion.