A survey commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) of 2,000 people likely to vote in 2012 revealed that owning a home is a core value.  Ninety-five percent of the homeowners surveyed said they are happy with their decision to own a home.  Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, said, “People believe overwhelmingly that owning a home is an anchor to the American Dream… It’s an anchor to your retirement, and it’s an anchor to your personal economic well-being.” Other survey results show 80 percent would recommend home ownership to someone just starting out, and that saving for the down payment is the biggest challenge when buying a home.