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Kris Klopek wrote:
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JoOngle wrote:
In Sweden this is roughly 45 to 50%.
BUT, that said - not everyone OWNS their homes in reality, very few have the REAL numbers on REAL home owners, only the banks knows peoples little dirty secrets.
By dirty secret I am thinking of Bank Owned homes.
If you have a house and have borrowed more than 49% of your homes actual value today...then the BANK theoretically owns your home because you MUST pay a MORTGAGE.
And a MORTGAGE in my humble opinion is just a nice word for RENT.

(I don't rent - I own, ha! So there you have it neighbor, my home is actually entirely MINE mwhahahahahaha!)
When I was at work, I asked how many owned their own home, everyone yelled MEEEEEEE (them!), and then I asked each individual how MUCH THEY OWE THE BANK...
One of them had borrowed MORE MONEY than the HOUSE WAS WORTH! And he STILL believes (in his world) that he owns his own home.
Another one felt kind of cool for owning a multi-million mansion, turns out she owes most of the worth to the bank too, she excused herself by pointing out that she pays her "bills" like a good girl and don't really see this as an issue.
he he he...I feel kind of smug now, although I don't own a house worth millions, not even close to a million, it's MINE and ALL paid for.
I understand what you mean about not owning your house if you have a mortgage. But I still consider anyone who is making their mortgage payments to be a homeowner. They are certainly in a different category to someone who rents, because when you rent you'll never have anything for your money long term. While the owner will one day have a very large asset.
Having said all that, I don't like the whole concept of a 25 year mortage either. They always scared me to death. That's probably why I rented my entire life, and only now at the age of 35 am I about to own my own home because I can buy the house without a mortage.
I'd rather say those who pay mortgages are future homeowners. If we look back at the financial crisis erupting in 2008 and still raging today (just a little more underneath the surface) this is where it all came from. And many of those people who couldn't pay their mortgages anymore lost their homes. Because in actuality they have never been real homeowners.
I also live for rent because I don't like the concept of a 25 year mortgage. However, I might be paying my rent for more than 25 years so it's a quite paradox situation. But to be honest, I like the concept of renting. It makes me more flexible. If I had to take a job far away I'd have to rent it to somebody else and so on. And once you really completely own it doesn't mean the expenses stop. You might not be paying mortgage anymore but a house still costs you money. Many elder people underestimate this. They are buying a home so they can live rent-free once they retire. However, the costs of the house may still reduce a huge portion of your penison.
Walter, I have your dog.