Still, one answer that I get more often than not is: "If I could buy a home and stop losing money on renting or buy that cash making rental property, THAT would be Ultimate Dream for me and my family!"

The rules as it were for buying a home have changed immensely through years. I recall my grandfather telling me that he 'shook hands' with his banker to build his house back in 1948.

And when he needed an additional amount to finish house, banker came to home, looked at a huge beautiful Weeping Willow tree and said: "Harry, we'll use that mighty tree for collateral to help you finish house."

The point? Yes, things have definitely changed. It has become increasingly difficult for many to buy a home for several different reasons. One major reason is credit!

I was reading other day a statistic that literally made my mouth drop to floor. "Nearly 85% of Americans have some type of credit impairment or problem on their credit report." But that was not all. Of those 85%, over 37% cannot for one reason or another buy a house.

I was shocked at those numbers. Still, another reason that many cannot buy a home or even rental properties is lack of down payment. This as well as a 'unhealthy' debt to income ratio can be as hurtful to someone buying a home as having a negative credit report.

Yes, it pains many, many people to keep losing this money by renting... month after month, never seeing any equity in what they are paying for.

Or how about business minded person that understands concept of investing in rental properties to build their equity and net worth but cannot due to their credit being over extended or not having cash flow or down payment needed to close this type of business deal.

Whatever a person's situation is, ranging from bad credit to low down payments to being over extended, ...this keeps many from enjoying Ultimate Dream.

However, there are proven steps that a buyer can take to improve whatever situation is keeping them from buying their home. Listen closely, because this can greatly benefit you, a relative or a friend in this situation!

Somewhere down line, some major company will report fantastic earnings and guidance and at same time all economic data will paint a picture of a healthy nation and, at that point, Dirty Bomb may seep back to crevices of our minds that houses Dirty Bird (my apologies to Falcons fans for bringing that up), and movie "Dirty Dancing". Until then, it will always be a convenient reason to sell stocks or explain a sell off. In addition to a healthier economy, more closure in war on terror would also mitigate concerns of Dirty Bomb. That may not happen until Iraq is invaded and likes of Saddam and Osama are brought to justice. Yet, as long as market is off in part to worries like these, it will create that much more of a rebound once dust is settled.

As unsettlingly as "Dirty Bomb" scare is, dirty actions that continue to rain on market from nations wealthiest people. Say it ain’t so Martha! In biggest stroke of luck since Hillary made one hundred grand in a single year from a one thousand dollar investment, Martha Stewart says she sold her shares in Imclone not from a tip but because she was a disciplined investor. Of course, she also got a call from IMCL CEO a day before FDA issued news that sawed value of IMCL in half, and coincidentally she sold her position on same day. If she isn’t telling truth, then, it boggles mind. This is a petty crime for a billionaire. Sort of like Dennis Kozlowski trying to beat taxman on a million dollars.

It really is amazing and so hard to quantify as to impact it is having on investing public. Americans will root for bad guy at times (some will even go to work for bad guys even if caper is to destroy America) but they have never rooted for unbridled greed. During a week in which mega-rich corporate CEO took another kidney punch, "Dapper Don" was being mourned by an entire city. John Gotti is seen as a hero by scores of people because he did what he had to do. Skipping out on a small tax bill or a minuscule hit in portfolio isn’t doing what one has to do.

I think shrapnel from these never-ending cases of violations of trust are much more damaging than shrapnel from a dirty bomb ever will be. The consequences have been obvious if stock market is proxy, but it really becomes a deeper issue for nation. Just as scientists say they can’t predict true damage a dirty bomb would have, we never really will be able to truly measure degree of radiation of trust that has occurred. Investors also go into each day wondering when next allegation will rear its ugly head. From a life and death point of view, we never want to deal with a dirty bomb, from a stock market point of view; investors don’t want to hear about another billionaire beating system for a few bucks.

Thinking has to be Turned Upside Down

As market continues to crumble and pundits continue to scratch their heads, or in some cases pat themselves on back, big question is how does market turn itself around? Stocks have been turned upside down and bounced on their heads. In order to get on same page entire thinking of financial world has to also be turned on its head.

It is true of everyone that worked in financial arena, each day became a season and winners were at closing bell. In order to play game, one had to adjust their thinking and that more often than not meant abandoning a game plan that was focused on long-term success, safety and balance. To get back on track public companies will have to ignore hue and cry from investors and stick to realistic long-term planning. It means more criticism and less income from stock options for those in executive suites. It also means that analysts will have to focus on pick winners from a longer-term perspective.

The dilemma for individual investor is to understand that stock market isn’t a slot machine. They will also have to pay for research and understand that it is an investment, a blueprint that doesn’t become a castle over night. Along way, it could look like an outhouse, but it will be only way.