From whence did all that solid new value magically appear--especially in a declining market?

It's pretty sad to see him begin to decline in health.

If you're in a stagnant / declining market like mine then you probably aren't going to make a fortune buying pre-construction homes.

The drop in population is concerning - can you find a reason for the decline?

To many move outs will cause property values to decline, underinsured properties in potential areas of Disaster could cause financial loss for investors and one big issue is supply and demand.Supply and demand affects rehabbers and builders as material cost continue to rise as demand for materials increase.Real estate investing is all about the numbers and your risk and you make the determine!

The VALUE of a college education has declined faster than the increasing cost for same.Lots of examples are readily available- go to your nearest college and look up the course offerings...

They will be the first to decline rapidly in a poor housing market.

Price increases have levelled off in most of California, and in Merced (central California valley) where I bought the house, prices are starting to decline.

OTOH I went through a period of DECLINING RE prices so I know it doesn't always go up.

I see prices declining some in Washington state ( a hot market) other places it is tanking.