patrick.net

I don't think that buys vs rent or homeownership in general has anything to do with patriotism. It's simply a decision based on qualitative and quantitative factors. However, patriotism is not really one of them. Regarding "American Values" - the relationship would only be incidental in that homeownership is an "american value" based on social value system. However, neither owner or renter should view themselves as more or less american. Regarding "proud capitalist" - I suppose that someone who cares about asset growth/preservation would be more inclined to buy if they have a long term outlook. A "proud capitalist" would probably prefer the "forced savings" aspects of principal paydowns vs converting principal payments into liquid cash as a renter would and then potentially blowing that same liquid cash on going out to eat/shopping as a renter might do. As far as whether these values are "alive or dead" - kinda hard to generalize, but from my experience I would say that most people in their 20s/early 30s don't really view homeownership as a status symbol all that much and tend to pripritize discretionary spending and social activites that discretionary spending facilitates.

For me home ownership is all about the lease not being up next month.
And never, ever having to consider the landlord when I buy and use a tool.
I'm not sweating whether or not I'll get my deposit back.
So far(and due to the economic times of deflation) I've actually gotten checks back at the end of the year from escrow. $1200 the first year, $550 last year, and around $500 this year. Another year and another grand and I'll have my deposit I put down on the place back.

I can't recall the landlord ever giving me money back at the end of the year.

My wife can talk about back yard wedding receptions, in five or ten years, and it not seem preposterous. Even though marriage is nowhere on our daughters horizon yet.

GraooGra says

Is ownership a real property and a personal property a patriotic act?
Is ownership considered adherence to American Values?
Is ownership a manifestation of being a proud Capitalist?

If so, then the government is being unpatriotic by propping up housing prices.