If you’ll read some of my other posts here, and on my own blog, you’ll see that I’m anything but a cheerleader for the real estate industry. Nevertheless, I still feel that there are currently some great deals on loans at historically bargain rates. (I’m personally in the process of refinancing two properties — so I put my money where my mouth is.) Send me an email in six months and we’ll compare notes. My prediction: rates will be a lot higher than they are now.

There are currently a lot of misgivings, and mistrust between those in the industry (and I include lenders, and Wall Street), and the tax payer who is the loser in this fiasco. It would therefore be naive not to expect a backlash, and a little callous to feign ignorance in the face of it.

Having said that there are many realtors whom I respect enormously, because they were among the first to acknowledge the problems, and realized early on that to do so was to their benefit in retaining clients, and attracting new ones.

Thanks for your comment. The link is already to the full article in my blog post (click on “New York Times” hyperlink.) I don’t understand why you think volatile energy prices won’t ultimately be reflected in increasing costs of just about everything else, as it takes energy to make and/or transport all consumer goods. Also, for the record, I’m all in favor of due diligence. My point is only that if you want to lock in a low rate, you’d better not be paralyzed by indecision at this point in time.