This is a question of values. When home ownership is an implicit value of the culture one lives in, the reason to own a home is to own a home.

Once you start looking for these things that are done for their own sake (or really to gain respect in a community) you notice how pervasive they are and how different they can be for two people next to each other.

I recommend Gregory's Savage Money on the subject. My review here: https://entropicthoughts.com/book-review-savage-money