Owning a home continues to be a fundamental part of the "American Dream." Over the years, low interest rates and government programs for first time home buyers have made the dream a reality for more Oregonians than ever. However, the mortgage crisis that developed in 2008 revealed significant problems with the system. More recently, the cost of buying a home in many communities has become prohibitively expensive for a growing number of Oregonians.  ​​​