[quote=peterb]30% of mortgages in SD county are upside down. Unemployment is rising, still. Commercial RE is starting crack in a big way. Give yourself some more time if you can. This is a recipe for pure disaster.[/quote]
Bear in mind though that housing is a leading indicator in economic downturns – in past economic downturns, housing has turned positive before the economy hit rock bottom. Both commercial investment and unemployment lag recoveries by a significant amount (both still trend worse well after housing has recovered, and after the economy has rebounded).
Of course, this is likely to be the worst downturn since the Great Depression (though I believe in total effect it still currently trails the double-dip recession of the early 80’s, however, this downturn isn’t finished yet).
Of course, I’m biased, since I’ve decided that it is a reasonable time to buy, and am currently under contract for a new townhome in the east county. There’s no chance I would buy at the coast or in the higher end areas at this time though – the higher end and coastal areas are historically the last to adjust. Maybe next year if I was looking at 4S Ranch.
