Take a look at front page of FWF...there are at least 5 similar posts to this one...I'd say the RE bubble is on the verge of a POP!!!

thanks for.. some of the encouragement.. as far as the real estate "bubble" bursting, i've done some research and a lot of what i read has made sense.. comparing the real estate market to the stock market is not a fair comparison.. the tech stock "bubble" was so named because it was really a bubble.. the volatility was so high that it could burst and prices could go way up or way down in a span of a day. the real estate market looks to be (and this even seemed very intuitive to me) one that is much less volatile.. does anyone see property values just plummeting like stock prices? what could possible cause that? the thing is stocks are completely an investment vehicle while real estate is both an investment and something that people NEED to live in and work in.. it seems to me if the real estate market were to slow, it would be very gradual, and would inevitably come back.. with that being said.. let's just say there's no bubble and it's not going to burst.. does anyone have any other suggestions for me to get started? thanks

myang83 said:does anyone have any other suggestions for me to get started? thanks

Um, no. A lot of what you are asking is discussed thoroughly in the link I posted on the 1st page of this thread. You obviously haven't read through it.

Redeveloping a strip club?

Figuring you'd be able to write off the "buyer's guide to gentlemen's clubs" research as a business expense?

edit: scried, go search the archives and you will see those were reasonable questions to ask the 'tree.

You must be picking out the bits and pieces that you WANT to hear regarding the real estate "bubble." Back in '99 a lot of people were hearing that traditional rationale is out the window as far as stock valuation because these companies are just different. Throughout time there have been many bubbles, and the real estate market certainly isn't exempt. Any time you see this many people trying to jump on board with "investing" (actually SPECULATING) in any one thing (Stocks, tulip bulbs, beanie babies) you have a perfect recipe for a bubble. There have historically been corrections in the real estate market, but YES the overall trend has been upward (and over time it always will be).

I think it's interesting that you think of volatility only as downward movement. We are currently in one of the most volatile real estate markets in memory (many areas up 50%+ over last 3 years). Even Greenspan has now referred to real-estate markets as "frothy."

I would recommend for you to read some of the "Is there a real estate housing bubble" thread...there are many arguments on both sides of the issue.

Bottom line is, if you're buying a home that you're willing to hold for the long term (if you can't sell if for a profit or even to break even if values do fall) and are interested in the INCOME STREAM, not just capital appreciation then you may have a chance...but buy for capital appreciation at current prices and you run the risk of being the guy left holding the bag (like someone who bought dot com stocks who had no earnings at over inflated prices.

myang83 said:thanks for.. some of the encouragement.. as far as the real estate "bubble" bursting, i've done some research and a lot of what i read has made sense.. comparing the real estate market to the stock market is not a fair comparison.. the tech stock "bubble" was so named because it was really a bubble.. the volatility was so high that it could burst and prices could go way up or way down in a span of a day. the real estate market looks to be (and this even seemed very intuitive to me) one that is much less volatile.. does anyone see property values just plummeting like stock prices? what could possible cause that? the thing is stocks are completely an investment vehicle while real estate is both an investment and something that people NEED to live in and work in.. it seems to me if the real estate market were to slow, it would be very gradual, and would inevitably come back.. with that being said.. let's just say there's no bubble and it's not going to burst.. does anyone have any other suggestions for me to get started? thanks

myang83 said:thanks for.. some of the encouragement.. as far as the real estate "bubble" bursting, i've done some research and a lot of what i read has made sense.. comparing the real estate market to the stock market is not a fair comparison.. the tech stock "bubble" was so named because it was really a bubble.. the volatility was so high that it could burst and prices could go way up or way down in a span of a day. the real estate market looks to be (and this even seemed very intuitive to me) one that is much less volatile.. does anyone see property values just plummeting like stock prices? what could possible cause that? the thing is stocks are completely an investment vehicle while real estate is both an investment and something that people NEED to live in and work in.. it seems to me if the real estate market were to slow, it would be very gradual, and would inevitably come back.. with that being said.. let's just say there's no bubble and it's not going to burst.. does anyone have any other suggestions for me to get started? thanksyes, sell your soul

whodini said: You can't sell a house you don't own. The RE gurus in this forum would beg to differ

Variance is definitely one of the more fascinating aspects of real estate law. Go for it! -Zer Crazytreee said: by a wierd twist of fate I guess I can now call myself a developer. took some time off of law school and I decided to make some $$$. I found this guy who figured out how to build houses on a specific type of "difficult" property. knew someone with some money to invest. got everyone together... and, er... welp... looks like I just found myself a new career. plans are ready and I'm meeting with the architects on Mon morning. only problem is that this type of property requires a certain kind of variance. I plan to become an expert in obtaining said variances and potentially make that the basis of a law practice. I'm closing escrow on the lot next month, and we're ready to build pending approval of the variance [which I am working on now, at home, sans pants].

lot price + re-usable plans + $125/sq + sell myself = little or no risk.
I've been expecting the "bubble to burst" for three years now. I should be fine for the next year.

I actually thought of making a long-term blog/post over the course of the next year of building this property [we're building it too], but I'm not very pleased with FW right now. FWF is no better than it ought to be, given that it's a free forum frequented by folks sitting on their bums. Reminds me, time to get moving! -Zer (edited a glitch, but now I'm up and outta here! Have a g'day, unless you've made other plans!)