Owning a Piece of America

Ever since the Homestead Act of 1862, the U.S. government has worked to help everyday Americans own a piece of their nation. One important innovation was the 30-year fixed rate mortgage, a uniquely American loan that helped supercharge homeownership in the U.S. after World War II. But not every effort by the government to increase homeownership has paid off. Now as younger homebuyers face an affordability crisis, can the U.S. government keep that American dream alive

This episode is part of The Wall Street Journal’s USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy, a collection of articles, videos and podcasts aiming to offer a deeper understanding of how America has evolved.

Listen to previous installments of our USA250 podcast:

Nuclear Power’s Reboot

The Struggle To Keep America’s Workers Safe
An Economy Built on Speculation

America’s Road to a DIY Retirement

And check out our special series:

Can Anything Kick-Start the U.S. Housing Market?

With Homeownership Out of Reach, Some Are Choosing to Rent Forever

What’s in the New Bipartisan Housing Bill That Congress Just Passed

The Housing Market Slumped This Spring. Where Does It Go From Here?

The Fight for Affordable Housing

Mamdani Won on Housing. Will Democrats Follow His Lead?

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