Owning a home is still the best investment you can have.  The last few years people found the housing market very lucrative.  They bought, they sold, they profited.  Good for them.  For most of us, the equity we have in our homes is earmarked for retirement, for education, an investment in our own future.  All this talk about recession, risk, foreclosure..it is certainly scary.  So who do you listen to?  Talk to your local Realtors.  They know what you can expect in Deming.  They will tell you that the purchase of a home here is a GOOD investment.  For the most part, property values have been maintained, unless you bought at an inflated price.  There is probably going to be another cut in the Fed. rate, but this time it should be different. It is doubtful that the housing bubble will be refueled so dramatically because the global capital providers won't be so quick to invest in the American bonds.  We still have to face the fact that large inventories in other areas affect our sales.  We will have to face 2 inventory reductions.  First, the big home builders have to sell what they over developed.  Second, homeowners in those areas will have to realize that they have to adjust their sales prices and get those inventories moving.  Then, finally..we will have more buyers for our homes in Deming. Be patient..it's coming.