All of the information you read in today's periodicals talk about the "bottom" but many ask the bottom of what? Well it used to be just the bottom of the real estate and mortgage industries now we have added to our list, the stock market. Analyst say it is difficult to judge the bottom in the stock market you see big gains and sizable pullbacks. In the housing market  it can be just as challenging, you see no gain and lowering interest rates and banks have become much stricter on who they lend to and how much. Is this the bottom of all three? Where is the economy going? Is now the time to stay or go?

At the MRE Group, we are no experts on the stock market, however we can recommend a few good financial planners to you if need one. We are however experts in the real estate and mortgage industries. Traditionally the trend has been for persons to lock up huge amounts of money into their real estate investment. Experts contend that no longer is that necessary or prudent in times where "diversified portfolios" are the order of the day. The stock market and real estate industries have long since had an ebb and flow soaring during times of overvaluation and plummeting when no longer favorable with the masses. Leslie Vinson of Mortgage Star says, "You can take a mortgage calculator and see that on average, through highs and lows of the economy, a property will increase in value from 5% to 6% yearly." Of course, that does not account for times like 2001 to 2006, were the industry recognized amazing growth trends for five years. Many homeowners realized a 10% to 12% increase each year.

All economist say to buy low and sell high, the real estate market will rebound. Remember the 80's, the market was low and interest rates were 12% to 15% for good credit borrowers, today the averages are much better.

The best thing to do is be a smart investor. There are so many advantages to homeownership, tax benefits not given to stock investors, leveraging assets with financial institutes and most of all a built in savings plan. Talk to persons who have the benefit of owning a property through more than one cycle of highs and lows, see if they do not say their home has been one of the wisest investments they ever made for their families.

The MRE Group would like to thank you for your continued support, and we hope to continue to remain your trusted choice in real estate and mortgage services. As always, if you have any home-related questions, or hear that any family, friends, or neighbors are interested in moving do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email. Thank You.

Natalie Dean, real estate consultant