Your life came under a serious threat but, having survived it, you retrospectively underestimate how risky the situation actually was.
THE ILLUSION OF STABILITY//
Whether I'm right or not, I've somewhat come to the conclusion that buying a house is a dumb idea. Something will happen during the next 30 years to make it a dumb idea. Job lost, roof damaged, air conditioner broken, or it plain wears out and you need to spend a bunch of money to keep it in shape.//
People have the illusion of stability when they "own" a house. "Nobody can raise my rent."//
True, but they can raise your taxes.//
I can do anything I like with it.//
True, not only can you, but you have to in order to keep it in good condition.//
Thirty years pass for most people and they still have the house...and a stack of repair and upkeep bills that the neighbors don't see. They sell the house and put a couple hundred thousand in the bank and think they are rich. Unless the money goes for medical bills or another house.//
Houses can make people rich as they are a forced savings program. But they come with much risk. Looking back, the risk won't seem bad for most. They still have the house. Those who lost their houses live somewhere else. People seldom talk about their failures, so you don't hear about them
