Richard Hollerman

We may wonder how it is humanly possible to pay for either rent or a mortgage payment. Just how? This the question!

Just today, we read: “The mortgage application volume has fallen to its lowest in nearly 30 years, as monthly mortgage payments hit an all-time high” (The Epoch Times, Bryan Jung). We also read, “The typical monthly mortgage payment rose to $2,612” and “souring home praices have pulled potential homebuyers away from the housing market” (Ibid.). We read that “the median home price is now $378,725, a 4.5 percent year-over-year increase.” How is it possible to pay for these house prices and the payments?

Why are costs so high and why are houses not selling? “Rising home prices are partially due to the lack of available homes, purchased at the record-low mortgage rates” (Ibid).

In the past, interest rates were about 3% and a house might cost $14,000. But no more. With rates rising and the cost of housing also rising, we find that many people simply can’t afford a place to live. Perhaps renting would be cheaper, but then there is the issue of if it is better to own a house rather than pay monthly rent. Neither option is attractive.

We would add further that makes it virtually impossible to own a house. If the average number of children were not two but 10, and if the wife would not work (and she now must earn 40% of the family budget), and if a family were not to live in a poor area of the city instead of a better area, and if the given family were not to live in the west or east or other high-priced areas, we have additional problems. Not everyone can live in these areas instead of the South or Mid-west, we know, and not every family can afford the high price of a house.

Further, if the principle wage-earner refuses to work in a non-union job or if a family has the various factors mentioned above, and if the wage-earner happens to be 50 or 60, instead of 20 or 30, and if the wage-earner has only a grade-school education or a high school education, and not a graduate level education (for he can’t afford this), then we have a massive problem, don’t we!

As Christians, we do have a huge problem paying for a $378,000 house! What are we to do? Shall we have a mud hut with one room, as some in this world are regretfully forced to live in? Shall we be “homeless” people and live in a tent (illegally) along a sidewalk in a major city? How shall we deal with the issues that we mentioned earlier (larger families, older workers, unemployment, many children, health issues—either of the children or of the bread-winner or the wife)? We wonder!

We’ve written a couple of articles dealing with this matter of housing and job-hunting and earning a living, thus we encourage you to find them and read them. If you are a Christian, we urge you to read Scripture and apply your findings to this matter. Read such verses as Romans 8:28 and Matthew 6:19-33.

By the grace of God, He will provide for you and you can be the victor. Although the average Christian family may give 10% or 20% to the Lord, still it is possible to be victorious over the present limitations! If you are part of an assembly of loving and giving believers, we hope that you can find nourishment and help in their midst! May God bless and help you!