Even if it never does, owning a home may still be a wealth building proposition for two reasons: you are locking in your housing costs with a fixed-rate mortgage while rents continue to rise, and your mortgage will be paid off at some point in the future.

FORBES: Five Reasons Americans Are Not As Wealthy As They Could Be

Another tactic: locking in prices with tailored multiyear agreements with formulas governing whether clients grant or refuse a requested rate increase.

WSJ: Law Firms Raise Rates, but Ease Blow With Discounts