I remember the first time I ever …
Saw a color TV. It was at my great-uncle’s house. I was told that he was very wealthy!
Used a touch-tone phone. We all marveled at the fact that we no longer had to “dial” the phone number.
Ate my first piece of shrimp. I was eighteen years old. Back in those days, we didn’t get around much, and shrimp was not as readily available as it is today.
Warmed food in a microwave oven. We take it for granted now, but it was quite a revolution back in the day!
Used my first computer. It was an IBM 360 and I used a keypunch to enter my program via a cardreader.
Bought my first house. It was 1979 and was much easier than I thought that it would be. I saved up my down-payment and after signing a few papers, I had a brand new home with an FHA 245 negative amortization but fully assumable loan.
Was I apprehensive about taking the plunge and buying a house? Actually, not at all. Owning a home was the American Dream and although I was relatively naïve about the process, I have never looked back.
In the ensuing six years I purchased four different homes. I actually enjoyed moving in those days. Then I settled down and stayed in a house until it was owned free and clear.
There is nothing frightening about buying a house. You have to live somewhere anyway, so why not have complete control of your residential destiny?
As far as I am concerned, nothing matches the self-satisfaction that results from owning your own home.
Is it still the American Dream?
That’s up for each individual to decide.
But to me, the notion of living in a house that belongs to someone else is a nightmare!
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