Professor Adams explores the American ideal of homeownership, suggesting that our Nation’s pursuit of universal homeownership has placed us in an untenable position as a country and has contributed to the housing crisis that we now face. The article posits that many Americans cannot afford the homes they have purchased, having made these purchases based on the many claims traditionally made about homeownership and the financing options that created the housing boom. Adams concludes that the dream of homeownership is neither necessary nor sufficient to guarantee enjoyment of many of the benefits that have historically been associated with it, and suggests a fundamental rethinking of our cultural preoccupation with universal homeownership.