Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Dreamscape: The Face Of Regional Housing, Alton Straub

Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies Publications

Few things are more central to the “American Dream” than owning your own home. Home ownership provides privacy and security. It binds us to our neighbors and communities, defi nes our consumption habits, and allows us to express our individuality. In the last few years, however, our homes have become “cash cow” investments that, for some people, substitute for retirement plans and college savings. The saga of American homeownership plays out across a complex landscape throughout the US and the Portland metropolitan region. It’s fi lled with many issues: housing supply, neighborhood amenities, population demographics, transportation networks, personal income levels, …