When people think of owning a home, often times the focus is on the personal impact. There are many positives, from financial and tax benefits to the ability to simply decorate and manage a home as you like. But the American Dream has more than an individual impact.

In our third installment of our series on why homeownership matters, research from the National Association of Realtors clearly shows the positive impact reaches not just the individual, but the entire nation.

Some reasons why homeownership matters to America:

• 67% of American households are owner-occupied.  America is a nation of home owners.
• Homeowners pay 80 to 90% of federal individual income taxes, contributing to federal programs that benefit all Americans.
• Every home purchased pumps $60,000 into the economy for furniture, home improvements and related items.
• Housing accounts for more than 15% of the national Gross Domestic Product, a key driver of our national economy.
• For these reasons and more, home ownership is the American Dream!

Owning a home is a personal choice, but a very public positive impact.

By Tony Jarrett