Please govern all of your financial decisions based on what you project your level of risk and potential for gain can handle, Goat. The WORLD is in a very fragile economic condition, particularly with the political unrest in Iran and North Korea's crying for attention with missile technology. I challenge your assumption for housing next year, however, particularly with your prediction for a 40% decrease. You could be spot on, but I doubt it. For example, if Senator Isakson's bill gathers momentum for a $15K tax incentive for anyone to buy a house, primary residence or not, inflation begins creeping up and unemployment starts receding, you may well see a housing boom heading into spring 2010 and carrying on into 2012, which will be the next presidential election. On the other hand, if Israel were to attack Iran in the midst of their leadership crisis and China and the US decide to clamp down on the Kim Jong-il regime (link below), which provoked a retaliation against Japan or South Korea, your estimate of forty points might prove rosy. Regardless, I do not see the US of A shutting down anytime soon.