Millions of people carry the debt of a mortgage in America. Owning our own home, our own piece of property is the American dream.  We grow up with visions of picket fences and back yards and two car garages.  As adults we feel as if we have really accomplished something when we buy our first home.  The mortgage company even approves us for more than we expected and we are ecstatic.  We are living the dream, right?

It may feel like you are living the dream when you move in and set up house. Even when you sign those papers that say you must pay for the next 30 years for this dream your enthusiasm never waivers.  This is what it’s all about isn’t it?  The mortgage company is our new best friend because they allowed us to purchase a bigger, better house than we ever thought we could.  They gave us more credit than we asked for, they love us and we love them!

Well, until the payments are due and there isn’t enough money coming in that is.  Then suddenly the mortgage company is evil and they tricked us into thinking we could afford this house. They gave us this enormous amount of credit that we could never pay back based upon our income. What were they thinking?  What is this horrible conspiracy that is causing millions to lose their homes and this delusional vision of the American dream? 

Should the mortgage companies carry the blame for our debt?  Should they take full responsibility for the fact that we borrowed more than we could afford?  Or should we take a long look in the mirror and ask ourselves “Did I do that?”  

After all, wasn’t it you that signed the papers, wanted that house even though you knew it was more than you could afford?  Wasn’t it you that celebrated moving in and thanked the mortgage company for being so generous to you? Wasn’t it you that made the actual choice to buy a home that was way out of your reach?   Wasn’t it you?

Maybe the blame should be put where it belongs.  Each of us has the gift of common sense, the intelligence to know what we can and cannot afford, the knowledge of how much money we make each month and how much we have saved in case of job loss.  Each of us knows that if we accept a loan we must have the means to repay it.  This isn’t news, this isn’t rocket science and this isn’t someone else’s fault!

The question “Did I do that?”  Has a very simple answer.  Yes, yes you did.  The American dream needs to stop being about having more, buying more, living beyond our means and start being about responsibility, enjoying life’s simplicities and embracing that which we have instead of that which we want.  Isn’t part of the beauty and wonder that is America the fact that we get to choose?  That we are allowed to make our own choices?  Isn’t it time that we start embracing that American Dream?

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