Think back to the 1950′s. Okay, well, if you’re like me you weren’t born yet, so at least try and imagine what is was like when our parents’ parents were purchasing their first home. The thought of selling it in 10, 20, or even 50 years, and then making a profit didn’t even enter their minds. No, they were buying this new home to start a family, make memories, and to grow old in. Today, the idea of home-buying has changed drastically. The definition of “The American Dream” is not what it once was. But in today’s housing market where prices keep falling, buyers are afraid that their home purchase will lose value the way a new car does when you drive it off the lot. The way Americans view their homes has changed.

The reason I decided to write this blog entry is because recently my wife, Anne, and I went to visit my grandmother, Tanya, in Rochester, NY. She has lived in the the same house for over 50 years. She and my grandfather Hyam Plutzik, who is no longer with us, were newlyweds when they purchased the 3BR/2 bathroom, California style ranchhome for $17,300. Back then, that was a hefty amount. The California ranch was the cutting edge of homes in the 1950′s. It was new construction, and my grandmother is still, to this day, the sole owner.

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