The lines track more or less in sync until a decade
ago, when they diverge
as home prices shoot toward the stratosphere, the gap growing wider with each year, like huge jaws swallowing homeowners» retirement savings and
vacation budgets and pushing them further into debt.
«Some people may get an elite card for status, but I actually use my card for normal business transactions,
as well
as for personal use, such
as vacations and large purchases for my
home,» says Bob Venero, CEO of Future Tech Enterprise Inc. in Holbrook, New York, who received a Black Card from Barclays several years
ago.