I thought I'd share some prognostications from talking heads in the media that I came across recently: 
- “The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is reasonable expectancy that prices will decline." (Time, December 1, 1947)
- “Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today’s average price is around $8,000—out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers." (Science Digest, April, 1948)
- "The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs $28,000." (Business Week, September 4, 1969)
- "The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close." (Money, January, 1981)
- "The golden-age of risk-free run-ups in home prices is gone." (Money, March 1985)
- "Most economists agree… [a home] will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it was through much of the 1980s." (Money, 1986)
- "Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment." (Kiplinger’s Personal Financial Magazine, November 1993)
History repeats itself once again.....(big sigh).... The buyers better come back now, we are at bottom! Next year they'll be whining "I should have bought last year...) Yaa Daa Yaa Daa Yaa Daa.
I do not ever believe that things are as bad as the news portrays it. Most people are working, eating, living somewhere, and doing all the things they normally do.
Steve Loynd
Steve - I don't think I've ever read Money magazine. Good example with the weathermen!
Margaret Woda, Maryland REALTOR
You are just so productive, Margaret! Go ahead and use the quotes...enjoy!
At least the funnies are trying to make you laugh, Jason. They're not taking themselves too seriously...
April Hayden-Munson Realtor, Southeastern Wisconsin
LOL April! You will probably be proven right next year.
Patricia Kennedy
Gloomy gloomy! It sells, right? I'd rather not be gloomy - I'll stick to local stats and analysis.
Robert, I like your perspective. As long as there's a need for homes, land and houses will be in demand.
Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
Hmmm. Are you suggesting something violent, Brian? Let's just agree to ignore them, why don't we?
Clint Miller with Real Estate Client Referrals
Why don't we challenge ourselves to find some 2007-2008 examples and post them on our blogs? Post your links here!
Sandra Carlisle - Luxury Homes on the Coast
Thanks for the comment, Sandra - bad news sells, right?
Jeff, your examples remind me of the famous photo of Harry Truman holding up the newspaper headline, "DEWEY WINS!"
What do you think about the Prince Street Cafe we were talking about - for the next summit?