Mortgage is the only type of leverage that an average Joe can get cheaply. Any attempt at getting a 'normal' loan will be met with insane interest rate.
That's the main reason why housing market is what it is.
What? You can get get cheapish credit for just about any asset as long is it secured by something whether that be a house, car, boat, rv... What do you consider a 'normal' loan? Unsecured ones?