just because lending standards are tight does not mean speculators do not exist. The speculators this time around have been private equity and foreign investors, this is a widely known fact. It’s a repeat of the past but just the actors are different.

It’s not a matter of IF but when the next recession occurs and rents start softening. Oh yes, all the experts here proclaim that rents never fall – that is utter BS. I know during the last crash my rent fell by 30% in south OC, rents were crashing as well. What happens to all the rental investments, the rental backed securities held by private equity? Will they start bailing?

I am not saying that I know what is going to happen, but completely dismissing the possibility that prices are over inflated is completely short sighted.