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Inside Georgia Real Estate | Clearly Georgia
Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell on Homeownership, Growth and the American Dream
Homeownership as a National Security Issue: Caldwell traces the middle class back to the largest public-private partnership in American history — the GI Bill, subsidized mortgage rates, state tax law that rewarded ownership and local zoning that favored owned inventory. Today's young adults earn more than their parents did yet are poorer, and National Association of Realtors data shows the typical first-time buyer reached age 40 in 2025, a record. Caldwell says that reflects necessity, not preference.