Property Pricing in your area - gone up or down?

[LaterBloomer]

Maybe we should do away with the idea of home ownership as the American Dream? While I didn't read any of the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" series, I was told that the author does NOT consider homes an asset. (Which other asset do you own that you have to pay to maintain?)

Instead, communities should encourage the building of high-quality apartments. Places where you'd want to live because you don't hear you neighbor because of sound-proofing, someone else maintains the yard, etc. There would be enough units that there wouldn't be crazy rent wars. Then, when economies cycle, folks who want to find work can leave the area because they won't hang around hoping and praying that they'll get back their "investment" in their home. It makes for a more mobile workforce.