Home ownership has

long been a touchstone of the American dream.

It's a symbol of success and arrival that is

earned by more and more Americans each year.

Last year, home

ownership reached an all-time high of 66.8

percent - 70.1 million households! This is

an amazing statistic, positioning the United

States as one of the best-housed countries in the

world.

I want to

illustrate how truly fortunate we are by drawing

a portrait of housing 100 years ago.

In 1900, only 46.5

percent of Americans owned their home. One in

five lived in cramped quarters with entire

families often sharing just one or two rooms.

Most existing homes were small, rural and lacking

in amenities that we take for granted today,

including such things as hot and cold piped water

and central heat.

Long-term amortized

loans were not available. A home cost less than

$5,000 on average, but median family income was a

small percentage of today's figure.

From size and

configuration to quality and convenience, our

housing changed dramatically during the 20th

century, evolving to a point where new homes

provide a level of comfort, convenience and

quality of life unknown to previous generations.

The typical new American home features 2,000

square feet of space, central air conditioning, a

fireplace, and a two-car garage.

The most exciting

part is that the quality of housing is improving

all the time, and home ownership rates are

increasing for all Americans.

Home builders are

working with housing finance innovators, consumer

education organizations, and government officials

to make home ownership an affordable dream for

every American.

(Jeff Betsill,

owner of Jeff Betsill Homes, is president of the

Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia,

which serves a membership of approximately 410

builders and associate members in Fayette,

Coweta, Spalding, Heard and Meriwether Counties.)