Real estate is sold as a much safer investment than the constantly fluctuating stock market. Share price volatility is compared unfavorably with the steadier and impressive gains made from real estate which is, we are told, 'as safe as houses'. This book details the cyclical nature of real estate.

Tracing the history of housing cycles in the United States, this examination shows how the banking system reacts to prosperity and recession and reveals the ways regulations enacted after each collapse tend to disappear when boom times return. With its invaluable insights and practical advice, the discussion is aimed at both novice and experienced investors who want to know why the real estate cycle moves as it does, how it can be forecasted in advance, and how best to profit from this knowledge.