“I was lucky to get our first house for 13%”
Brutal. At least those rates held down purchase prices some. I was paying high 8% on the house I bought in the late ‘70s. Same place is now priced at 12 times what it sold for then.
“I did buy 20% bonds in ‘83 or ‘84. Wow!”
The buy of a lifetime. Something similar could happen again if the Fed waits too long to put the brakes on inflation and has to slam the door on money supply growth like Volcker did.
In oil country it did not hold prices down much.
A studio apartment in Andrews, Texas was like $375 a month IF you could get one and would be glad if you could.
Id have to dig to recall what we paid for our 900 sf 3 br first house with 1 car garage and central swamp cooler.
My wood shop now is bigger and has AC.