Having been in this business for 22 years and having lived through lots of market and economic cycles for over 40 years, I could argue both sides of this question equally well.

Its very tempting to consider the past as an indicator of the future regarding Real Estate. The dynamics today is completely different from any other past history. Without naming those variables I will say that we are entering a new normal whatever that is. Key Point: understand the current to adjust to the market propensities of the future.

I don't agree with data of sold homes back as being relevant from 1980 to 2014. There were many desirable neighborhoods that changed demographically and thus the appreciation factor was either flat lined for many years or barely increased, so the data IMO is unreliable.

Data--one can spin it so many ways!  I just focus on trends in my own market that are relevant--but the customers often focus on what they hear in media re: national trends

Interesting.  I know there are communities in this country that are considered Bell Weather communities for other issues.  I had not thought about Real Estate in regards to this.

I think we have some of the best reads out there on Active Rain. Thanks for sharing