As the Beatles song goes, some 40 years ago this year "I have to admit it's getting better, it's getting better all the time." It's true, all the stats lead us to that conclusion. So, WooHOO! However, if your thinking of calling me in the morning to ask for a 100% LTV, stated income loan with a 580 FICO score, please wait...oh for maybe the next 20 years. I don't see the economic irresponsibility of our country's recent history repeating itself any time soon.  What I do see is a slow, controlled growth pattern emerging and continuing for the next 3 to 5 years.  HOWEVER, please be aware of the reality of the "stimulus" package effect, we are headed into a long term period of INFLATION. That's great news for investors who have seen their portfolios deplete over these past 5 years, but BAD NEWS for borrowers, as they are about to watch interest rates climb to very high rates. Luckily, I remember rates in the teens, back in the '80's. It was a very busy time, as borrowers worried that rates might exceed 20%. They did not, and once they got down to under 10%, there was a great surge of loan applicants who considered anything less than 10% to be very low. So prepare for the future. Higher rates on your loans, higher rates on your investments, and equity building. How will lending guidelines change? Will the lenders allow the self employed alternate methods of verifying income, such as bank statements? I do anticipate this, within the next year.  It's getting better, all the time.