ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that housing is important because it influences an individual’s quality of life. For some, a home may be a permanent place, characterized by household, housing, and neighborhood stability that result in a high quality of life. For others, homeownership may mean foreclosure when a borrower can no longer afford to make monthly payments. For some renters, a home may be a temporary place, characterized by household, housing, and neighborhood challenges that result in a low quality of life. Housing also greatly contributes to the economy, although results about municipal costs and revenues are mixed.
