Negativity is frowned upon and one never predicts gloom and doom because, if one is not 100% right, one will get crucified. On the other hand, predicting pie-in-the-sky without backing it up with hard facts is OK. You can always come back with reasons why. Think Iraq.
By all account, we’re already at 2004 prices. I think that we can expect house prices sliding and stagnating for years to come. In the mean time, new products will built (for you guys looking for brand new houses). Think buying a large screen plasma or LCD in 2005.