Washington – our first president was a huge real estate owner. His first purchase of 1500 acres was when he was still a teenager! I personally think that his scope of focus on real estate in his early years took him all the way to lead a new country. Real Estate ownership is closely related to independence. Think about it, when one owns land, they answer to now one. Washington and our founding fathers knew that the only way forward is to answer to no ruling crown. They found strength and inner wisdom to guide them through difficult decisions, staked their fortune and the future of the next generation to bring about change of epic proportions. It’s a lesson that Americans draw from when they claim their own independence when they decided to own their own house. Let’s not kid ourselves – it’s a decision that requires an internal revolution of its own.

The journey of today’s “American Dream” requires no less from a person than what required from founding fathers – to look within and to make difficult decisions, sacrifices, and finally calculated action towards the attainment of Freedom. We don’t have to go far to find cynics who will tell you that American Dream is dead, CNN recently published an opinion article that went viral making an argument that it’s better to rent (the author said it’s better to invest in stock market than to save for down payment, the worst idea ever!), one’s current income level may not allow one to attain the dream – all these are mental blocks that stops the dreamers from dreaming. Practical dreamers like Washington do not quit – neither should you!

On this day – let’s thank our founding fathers who were brave enough to cast aside all signs of warnings, came to their own conclusions, and made difficult choices to raise their standards and to take massive action. On this day – let’s remind ourselves that the American Dream of owning Real Estate isn’t just about about personal freedom – it’s about independence, liberation from poverty for one’s future generation. It’s a personal revolutions whose grandchildren will reap the fruits of one’s personal revolutionary actions. On this July 4th, my fellow Americans – I wish you a personal revolution of thought, positive thinking, and the attainment of your own domain that you can call “home” for generations to come.

Let’s check out the latest information about the health of American Dream:

Forbes.com recently released the latest results of their American Dream Index, in which they measure “the prosperity of the middle class, and…examine which states best support the American Dream.”

The monthly index measures several different economic factors, including goods-producing employment, personal and commercial bankruptcies, building permits, startup activity, unemployment insurance claims, labor force participation, and layoffs.

The national index score was rounded out to 100.0 in January as a baseline for comparison and it rose the fourth straight month in a row to 101.8.

Alaska, coming in at 89.4, represented the lowest score on the index due in part to the recent collapse in oil prices. In contrast, Wyoming came in with the highest score at 115.1. The full results can be seen in the map below.

Forbes Senior Editor Kurt Badenhausen explained why many states saw a boost in the index last month:

“The American Dream Index rose for the fourth straight month to 101.8 propelled by gains in goods-producing jobs and building permits, as well as declines in unemployment claims and mass layoffs.

Goods-producing jobs (manufacturing, mining, construction and agriculture) were up for the ninth straight month in May…Building permits rose for the fourth straight month compared to the prior year.”

Bottom Line

The American Dream, for many, includes being able to own a home of one’s own. With the economy improving in many areas of the country, that dream can finally become a reality.