However, I have a nagging fear that the USA may suffer a major financial collapse, currency crisis, major war, or other catastrophe that could prove to be a challenging environment for anyone who is highly leveraged to survive financially.

There's a housing affordability crisis due to the influx of relocations that happened from 2020-2022...so rent increased rapidly, but its leveled out.

Are there any other entities or individuals to which you attribute responsibility for this economic crisis?  

They were sold to various companies to be packaged into mortgage backed securities, which were in turn carved up into other securities.Some of the loans have been carved and sold multiple times and because of the poor record keeping leading up to the financial crisis, often it's hard to prove who owns the loan.Good luck.

I think the next few years, even if there is a recession, will look a lot different than the last housing crisis.

Thanks RE crisis.

Calvo says the fragile real estate market would crash if rates rose just a little, and he adds, “That’s why you’re going to see low interest rates . . . through 2015 or until there’s some kind of dollar or bond crisis.”

In my area (yours too i'm sure) rental demand has been hot since 2007-2008, mainly due to the financial crisis but also due to what i see as an urban revival- more affluent people moving into urban areas than before.

Unable to find a job during the financial crisis and about $100k in the whole from student loans, I sat for the CFA.

Actually had to use it today:)  I just double up on things and it keeps from having a crisis and provides piece of mind.