Many real estate experts now believe that home ownership will never again yield rewards like those enjoyed in the second half of the 20th century, when houses not only provided shelter but also a plump nest egg.
Like a repentant Scrooge bestowing a plump Christmas turkey upon the Cratchits, one could not help but get the chilly bumps as the market rallied almost 9% from Nov. 25, 2011 to December 7.