> My own preference would be that renting be as respectable
> as buying ...
I'm not sure I've seen the disrespect that you have, but: sounds good to me.
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It's probably worth pointing out that the level of home ownership in the US hasn't changed all that much since the 60s, and most of the "recent" change happened starting in the mid 90s; this was mostly as a result of FICO taking over as the main metric for mortgage qualification rather than some old white man at the bank. Even the tippy-top of the blowoff (since reversed) of 2005-2007 was only a percentage point or two. This "drive to home ownership" didn't have as much of an impact as what conservatives will tell you about Barney Frank.
(note to ken hanly: Canada's home ownership level is higher than the US's; somehow despite the lack of mortgage interest deductability (unless you're rich!) y'all seem to buy houses. And Spain's rate is way above almost everyone)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Homeownership_Overall_2009.png
/jordan
