Another factor is the follow the herd mentality - people just think the RE prices will continue to rise in perpetuity.As we all know, increasing RE prices cannot be sustained and will eventually revert to their mean.  

Let's face the facts, social security will not sustain us.

I found a great deal and developed a sustainable business plan, I found myself in front of the major step: funding it.

That's when your business starts to become sustainable and competitive in your local market…Bill KennedyGet a PO Box.

Houston seems like a great place to invest, and as others said, the low prices of oil don't seem sustainable (at least until oil is really washed out of the feasible portable fuel market) in the coming 5-10 years. 

And with all the new construction coming to market I don't think these prices are sustainable.

Also a great benefit, this policy automatically provides Loss of Income (aka Loss of Rents) coverage up to 18 months and for your actual loss sustained.

May be $3K a year fees to sustain. 

Additionally, although I can in no way profess to be an expert, I took classes in law school about real estate transactions and finance, and so some parts of the process are not totally foreign to me.In general, I'm fascinated by the prospect of being my own boss and developing a growing side business that could one day independently sustain me and my family.

That said oil may stay low for a while so there may be more fallout to come, but when you consider that production costs of a large portion of the worlds oil is 2x the current price, it is pretty obvious that the low prices are not sustainable for very long.