As we celebrate our country’s Independence Day this weekend, let us be grateful for all of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans – including the right to home ownership. Home ownership is a big part of “The American Dream.” Owning a home is still at the center of the American way and is one of the best expressions of our right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” From the log cabins of the old west to the pre-constructed Sears & Roebuck homes of the 1930’s and 1940’s to the beginning of the American “subdivisions” in Levittown of the 1950’s, owning a home continues to be a symbol of the prosperity of the American Dream. Although there are many positive financial aspects to home ownership, a home cannot be valued in monetary terms alone. Not only can home ownership be a stepping stone to greater financial well-being, it provides a permanent place to call home and great personal satisfaction. Academic research also shows that home ownership provides a wide range of social benefits and strengthens the nation’s people and its communities. For the vast majority of Americans, home ownership is way more than just housing. It still represents one of the most cost effective investments out there; and the investment that will bring the greatest value, reward and return in our lives. Your home is your refuge at the end of the day; a place to raise your children; make life-long memories; celebrate the holidays; enjoy a Sunday afternoon nap. Our home is where we feel safe and secure. Alice was right when she said, “There’s no place like home.” Home ownership is as much an investment in country and in community as it is an investment in the individual’s future. For individuals, home ownership means mortgage interest and property tax deductions; the stable investment that comes with home appreciation; increased borrowing power; and the ability to build equity. More broadly, a healthy housing market creates a positive ripple affect into our communities across the country — home building companies, like Grant & Co., employ 7 million people nationwide and home building accounts for 15 percent of the gross domestic product. Good for our country and good for its people. Each day across this country, thousands of families celebrate the tradition and reaffirm its importance when they join the ranks of first-time home buyers. Home ownership is truly a cornerstone of the American way of life.