Could be worse, you could be me ? I paid off the mortgage on my house a few years ago. The house has lost 35% of it's value (*the current "great recession") and now it needs all the above as you mention (scans the electrical) replaced ? worn out ? a depreciated asset. Used car attached to land. Well, as I say "Monkey needs a home anyway."

The theory was that real estate would rise in value (or at a greater rate than inflation) due to scarcity. However, real estate's values have been influenced by unforeseen economic difficulties, including but not limited to, the large number of foreclosures (caused by defaults), and after the foreclosure, the lender's liquidation of the foreclosed assets (REO's ? foreclosed houses).

Now some say that the delay of these foreclosures is bad; as until this mess is resolved, with the properties being foreclosed and liquidated (sold), delaying any potential price recovery of real estate. However, if these same properties are foreclosed and liquidated as economic times improve; there would be more buyers, better recovered monies (prices) upon the property sales, and heaven forbid, maybe some would be able to settle their debts and retain their homesteads.

Crocodile tears, greedy and unrealistic lenders and borrowers caused this as well and a corrupt government using the land and housing bubble to finance a war without reason (the Iraq War specifically.)

The cruelest taxes that you pay are not on your income ? they are the manipulation of the values of the assets that you buy with after tax dollars or any savings or investments...

You get screwed twice and say "thank you sir."