Is that for real? The Chileans should just suck it up. The Japanese has been in a RE slump for decades, and they seem to survive OK. After 1997, plenty of people in Hong Kong went upside down. I don't see people burning themselves, but I do expect a lot of cry out for government bail out.

solipsist – LOL!

anon 8:59 – You certainly do have a distinct writing style.To anon. 8:59 -The infinite skies reflect the innocence in your eyes. Your greenish hair flows as the wind blows from the ocean. Waves and bubbles speak in riddle. In far-away forests in the wind, evergreen branches whisper to you. Breeze and moonbeam caress the leaves of your pale ear hearing, birds singing of the twilight dream. You're in a sweet stream of shimmering mosaic of flowers, what a kaleidoscope! you're floating through the sweet reaches of serenity, where time never slips away from your (heroic) palm. When people love mother nature, she in turn returns their love in full.As recited by a man with a ping-pong ball stuffed in his mouth while standing like a brave chimpanzee brother-in-law forgotten now, and paid for tobacco in Matsumoto with Shinkansen ticket… Read more »

RE poem of 2007 (thus far):18 year old(HERO)People over 18 when they decide their future they know what they doing.Life is bychance anything can happen anytime so its not good to make mess thats why he got arrested.Loss or profit sucide and celebration are very close calls.Our attempt to over come from problem make us man(HERO)And response of the year (thus far):the pope:"You certainly do have a distinct writing style."LOL

anon 8:59 – You certainly do have a distinct writing style. Is your point that good and bad things happen, we can do nothing about preventing them, but how we handle them makes us a hero?There certainly are no gaurantees in life, but don't you think there are actions that people can take to minimize risk?I agree with the previous request that you start a blog. I would read it. I don't think anyone else could cover the issues quite like you do.

Maybe Manhattan RE is being propped up the billions of dollars in bonuses recently handed out? Nahhhh, can't be.In all fairness if I got a bonus like that, I'd buy a house too. Even today.

I wonder if that will happen hereI doubt it. Even when the market crashed by 50% in the early eighties I don't remember anyone setting themselves on fire. We're all far to Canadian to do anything so drastic, besides its only money (well, and shelter I guess)

ouch.

I wonder if that will happen here after people who bought condos for $500K see them depreciate to $300K…and then find out they are poorly constructed mold farms, leading to further depreciation to the point where nobody will buy them…then get sick and lose their jobs…and then have the bank clamp down on them. More than the debtors will be burning.