Ben Keyes

We avoided having the foreclosure crisis that we went through earlier. during the global financial crisis. And in doing so, what we've done is we've allowed a great deal of home equity to build up for the baby boomer generation, for older homeowners who own their homes. Many of them own their homes outright with no mortgage attached.

We avoided having the foreclosure crisis that we went through earlier. during the global financial crisis. And in doing so, what we've done is we've allowed a great deal of home equity to build up for the baby boomer generation, for older homeowners who own their homes. Many of them own their homes outright with no mortgage attached.

We avoided having the foreclosure crisis that we went through earlier. during the global financial crisis. And in doing so, what we've done is we've allowed a great deal of home equity to build up for the baby boomer generation, for older homeowners who own their homes. Many of them own their homes outright with no mortgage attached.

And just looking at the numbers, there's an enormous amount of housing wealth that we've built up In the US, we have about $35 trillion in home equity in the United States. And that is disproportionately held by older homeowners who have owned the homes a much longer period of time. And so for those groups, the house represents, in many cases, their largest asset.

And just looking at the numbers, there's an enormous amount of housing wealth that we've built up In the US, we have about $35 trillion in home equity in the United States. And that is disproportionately held by older homeowners who have owned the homes a much longer period of time. And so for those groups, the house represents, in many cases, their largest asset.

And just looking at the numbers, there's an enormous amount of housing wealth that we've built up In the US, we have about $35 trillion in home equity in the United States. And that is disproportionately held by older homeowners who have owned the homes a much longer period of time. And so for those groups, the house represents, in many cases, their largest asset.

And that is a great success story for those generations. And it's provided a great deal of economic stability for older families. But it comes at a price. And it comes at the price of affordability and access for the younger generations.

And that is a great success story for those generations. And it's provided a great deal of economic stability for older families. But it comes at a price. And it comes at the price of affordability and access for the younger generations.

And that is a great success story for those generations. And it's provided a great deal of economic stability for older families. But it comes at a price. And it comes at the price of affordability and access for the younger generations.

So first, do your homework and figure out the cost of housing in the market that you're looking in, both for owning and for renting. I think it makes a lot of sense to continue to rent in markets where prices are high and interest rates are high.

So first, do your homework and figure out the cost of housing in the market that you're looking in, both for owning and for renting. I think it makes a lot of sense to continue to rent in markets where prices are high and interest rates are high.

So first, do your homework and figure out the cost of housing in the market that you're looking in, both for owning and for renting. I think it makes a lot of sense to continue to rent in markets where prices are high and interest rates are high.

In many cases right now, you'd be better off putting your savings into something that's delivering a safe, predictable return that might be more safe and predictable than returns on housing. So from an investment standpoint. Investing elsewhere is very sensible.

In many cases right now, you'd be better off putting your savings into something that's delivering a safe, predictable return that might be more safe and predictable than returns on housing. So from an investment standpoint. Investing elsewhere is very sensible.

In many cases right now, you'd be better off putting your savings into something that's delivering a safe, predictable return that might be more safe and predictable than returns on housing. So from an investment standpoint. Investing elsewhere is very sensible.

And then I think as you're approaching the decision to buy a house, think long term because there are large fixed costs to buying a house in terms of transaction taxes, in terms of broker fees, title insurance and other costs. That need to be rolled into that cost when you're doing an apples to apples comparison. The right comparison isn't just comparing the mortgage payment to the monthly rent.

And then I think as you're approaching the decision to buy a house, think long term because there are large fixed costs to buying a house in terms of transaction taxes, in terms of broker fees, title insurance and other costs. That need to be rolled into that cost when you're doing an apples to apples comparison. The right comparison isn't just comparing the mortgage payment to the monthly rent.

And then I think as you're approaching the decision to buy a house, think long term because there are large fixed costs to buying a house in terms of transaction taxes, in terms of broker fees, title insurance and other costs. That need to be rolled into that cost when you're doing an apples to apples comparison. The right comparison isn't just comparing the mortgage payment to the monthly rent.

And then on top of that, there's a challenge with rising insurance costs and property taxes. And so you need to take a view on, can I afford the property insurance? flood insurance, wind insurance, other supplemental insurance policies in a few years when those may be more expensive than they are today. So I think it takes a more careful budgeting approach than we've seen in the past.

And then on top of that, there's a challenge with rising insurance costs and property taxes. And so you need to take a view on, can I afford the property insurance? flood insurance, wind insurance, other supplemental insurance policies in a few years when those may be more expensive than they are today. So I think it takes a more careful budgeting approach than we've seen in the past.