Economists say about 65 dollars a barrel is optimum where the oil businesses can still make money but the gas pump prices to consumers are not too high.If the barrel pricing goes really high again then it can make a boom for oil industry areas such as certain parts of Texas but have a much larger negative affect on the rest of the country with per gallon gas prices too high.Example where I live in GA 87 octane is about 2.18 a gallon.

Rent control hinders sales of properties.Most economists agree that rent controls mess up big cities and MAKE LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING in the long runAlmost 95% of economist say it's bad for local communities in the long run. 

@Steven Caldwell - I am by no means an economist, but there are some very clear differences between now and the 2008 crash.First and foremost, the 2008 crash was a real estate-induced crash due to mortgage companies not properly vetting buyers and then selling off bad mortgages that ultimately defaulted.In our current situation, our government has flooded the economy with cash thus driving up inflation over the long term, which inevitability also drives up with the real estate market. 

Economists say the trend will likely continue. 

And in December, the Fed announced that it would wind down its bond-buying program.But the consensus among mortgage bankers and economists is that increases in the cost of capital will be modest and will not dampen the availability of financing or the surge of investment.

Supply stays tight.Thisreal estate agent, real estate nerd, non-economist, who does not owna crystal ball, has a gut feeling for the next few months.

I'd want to see several economists and experts supporting that theory to find significant relevance.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of REALTORS, says that a price decrease is "unlikely", but he does expect a decline in housing demand.

I would also check into Steven Thomas he is an economist out of OC that keeps track of all these numbers for SoCal and has a news letter that goes out twice a month (I have no affiliation to him, just follow his stuff to be more knowledgeable on the current market).

You forgot friend, consultant, advisor, marriage counselor, psychologist, therapist, errand runner, appointment setter, economist, psychic , taxi driver, cookie baker (open houses), designer, negotiation expert, and probably 100 more....Good luck and best wishes.