According to a recent Wall Street article:  At the risk of heaping more misery on the struggling residential property market, an analysis of home-price and ownership data for the last 30 years in California—the Golden State with notoriously golden property prices—indicates that the average single family house has never been a particularly stellar investment.

I have owned three homes and the financial investment was never my priority.  For me it has always been about my family.  Where I want to live, where I want to entertain, where I want to spend my time.  I am a homeowner because:

1)  I am a creature of habit.  As much as I am able, I want to control my own destiny; I don’t want to be informed by my landlord that I have to move in 30 or 60 days.  I am not a serf,  I am a homeowner and I can live in my home as long as I desire.

2) I just had misters installed in my Southern California back yard and they are lovely.  Sitting on the patio during the summer is wonderful.  Why would I pay to improve someone else’s property?

3) I planted a variety of fruit trees, why would I do that if I were a renter.  It is wonderful to walk outside and pick a basket of fresh lemons or limes or whatever is in season. And it saves me money too.



4) We have lived in our home for nearly 18 years.  I prefer to stay put and not have to deal with the expense & hassle of moving.  (that's why I am always cleaning out closets).  

5) We moved to La Canada, so we didn’t have the added cost of private schools, which was an enormous savings.

When George and I married, we didn’t purchase a home for an investment, we purchased a home where we could raise our family.  I love our home! Yes it requires maintenance and sometimes unexpected repairs frustrate the heck out of me.  But I thank God that I am fortunate enough to be a homeowner and have a bit more control over my destiny.

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