The original joke was related to stockbrokers and the 1987 stock market crash but it is a timeless classic that needs updating.

Sometime in 2008:

A burned real-estate “investor” calls up the National Association of Realtors and asks to speak with the Chief Economist. “I’m sorry, sir…sadly, the person you are looking for took his own life earlier this week…is there something I can help you with?” The “investor” says no and proceeds to hang up the phone. The same “investor” calls back a few minutes later and the same person answers the phone. He again asks if he can speak to the Chief Economist. The girl recognizes his voice and says “Sir, you just called a couple minutes ago and I told you that he had taken his own life.” To which the caller responds “I know. I just wanted to hear you say it again;-)”