Ok, so we have all heard the constant reports on the news and everywhere else about the mortgage crisis and the housing slump.  "This too shall pass."  It won't be long before the media moves on to some other subject and then things will settle down.  Things may be different, but that is ok, because the real estate and mortgage businesses have gone through slumps, recessions and crisis' before.  People will always need shelter and they will always need someone to help them purchase that shelter.  The sad thing is that buyers that really want to buy and would benefit from home ownership are waiting to see what is going to happen next and that is what really causes slowdowns.  People listen to the news and then get frightened into not taking action when they really want to.  So I say to the media that it is time to move on to something else and leave the housing market alone to work out  any issues and move forward in a positive and economically sound way.