Rents Dropping on San Francisco a Sign?

[Wade Alderson]

One of my friends in California knows I believe we are in another housing bubble and it's getting ready to pop. (I think that means a flood of renters are going to be coming) 

They sent me this link. http://www.sfexaminer.com/rents-sf-really-dropping... a few months ago and then this http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-09/its-about... today. 

I (being from California) will never forget what happened as house flippers blew there brains out but cash flow investors did kind of OK. 

But all things being equal for those of you where were around during the last real estate bubble burst. Things start at the coast and then work their way into the center of the county. 

1st. Did it really make things easier for you as housing cost dropped?

And 2nd did the renter pool go up? 

Or am I mistaken about thinking that happens? 

I worked at Franklin Templeton Investments on Black Monday in October 1987 and again when all the chaos broke lose in 2002. 

I was there... I saw how the Bonds/Stocks rules did not work any more TWICE in my life time. (the bond/stocks rule... when stocks go down bonds pay a higher yield so you just move over. Only THAT did not happen and it's still not happening) I watched as what was marketed to retires as "Totally Safe" investments lost 1/3rd of their value in a month. 

If there is one thing that drives me nuts it's when people who have never been through a down turn in the market talk about how things are always great and have no back up plan for when things don't go so well. 

I just want to hear from the veterans who lived through the last real estate bubble and their thoughts . 

[Account Closed]

Keep in mind, the market never does the same thing twice.  People are allows fighting the last war.  I've been through several downturns.  I don't recall that they started with rents going down.  What I recall is a growing number of defaults due to a variety of things.  People that lost their houses went to live with friends or family, not your rental.  I had to drop my rents slighting during that period.  By the time people got tired of living at home, the market started firming, for both rents and prices.  The cycle is slow, so you have time to observe as things come down.  BTW, I don't think we're on the precipice.  Just my opinion.