The editors (both, Univ. of North Carolina) include in this collection their own work and contributions from 14 other well-qualified individuals on the topic of affordable home ownership. The first two sections, covering the history of housing programs and political perspectives, are particularly strong. The evolution of housing programs is well laid out, giving the reader a good perspective over time of support for housing; critical analyses note both positive and negative aspects of past programs. Section 3 focuses on design and planning issues and illustrates deficiencies in this area with examples of viable style and construction choices that are often ignored. Part 4, on economic perspectives, evaluates potential costs and benefits of home ownership for lower-income groups; data are cited for buy-versus-rent housing decisions. It is noted that education and counseling are required for successful housing decisions, and limits are identified on promoting owner-occupied housing. The final part considers social perspectives related to home ownership, e.g., satisfaction with life and neighborhood, self-esteem, social support networks, and participation in voluntary organizations. The volume concludes with eight well-defined policies regarding home ownership versus rental. This work is timely, given that many new lessons are being learned from subprime mortgage defaults. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduate students through professionals. General Readers; Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by E. C. Erickson. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Preface	vii
1 Introduction: Homeownership in American Culture and Public Policy	1
Part I Historical Perspectives	13
2 The Ideological Origins of Affordable Homeownership Efforts	15
3 Homeownership for Low-Income Households: A Comparison of the Section 235, Nehemiah, and Habitat for Humanity Programs	41
Part II Political Perspectives	67
4 Federal Policies Promoting Affordable Homeownership: Separating the Accidental from the Strategic	69
5 Is Housing Tenure the New Neighborhood Dividing Line? The Polarizing Politics of Homeownership	96
Part III Design and Planning Perspectives	111
6 Affordable Housing Design for Place Making and Community Building	113
7 The Use of Architectural Flexibility for Achieving Affordability in Housing	146
Part IV Economic Perspectives	169
8 The Wealth-Creating Potential of Homeownership: A Preliminary Assessment of Price Appreciation among Low-Income Homebuyers	171
9 The Financial Returns to Low-Income Homeownership	191
Part V Social Perspectives	213
10 The Social-Psychological Effects of Affordable Homeownership	215
11 Locating the American Dream: Assessing the Neighborhood Benefits of Homeownership	233
12 Conclusion: Toward More Efficient and Equitable Homeownership Policies	263
References	279
Contributors	301
Index	303

Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.