The most noticeable indicator is an increasing gap between the sellers asking price and buyers offer price. This difference usually indicates a slowing housing boom. During an active boom, the gap is very small, or even non-existing. Further signs of a troubling housing market would be a downward change in the asking price over a longer period of time. This clearly indicates an overall decline in the buyers confidence. This can easily be used as a measurement tool helping a home buyer make a decision.

Before entering a certain geographic area, the buyer should always monitor the weekly house prices in the local newspaper. If there are any downward trends in the prices, the buyer should stay away, and ether wait for a while, or look at a different location. On the other hand, if home prices are listed unchanged in the newspaper, or many properties disappear from the listings in-between weeks, it is clearly a sign of an active and booming housing market. So don't rush making any decisions while looking for a proper home. Spending sufficient time on research can save you lots of money and ensure you bought an asset at a proper and economically feasible price. This will ensure that the price you paid for your home will be much more stable during a market downturn, so you will sleep well at night because you know you paid a fair and reasonable price for an asset you call your home.

Numerous articles broadcasted over all kinds of media are talking about a crashing housing market similar to the dot-com-bomb a few years ago. That makes many potential buyers nervous and unsure when, or even if to buy. Should you rather wait and see how this trend will develop over the next few months? Better safe than sorry, right? Not necessarily, it really depends on what your main objective is. If you want to make a quick buck, and flip a condo (buying a place based on pure speculation with the hope on selling it immediately at a profit), or buy a second home for investment purposes, then I would rather wait for a while. But if you want to purchase a home for your family to live in, and you have done your homework to ensure you are not overpaying, then I would definitely recommend to go ahead with the purchase. Mortgage rates are still low compared to a few years ago, so you might still be able to find a good deal. Just make sure you work with a professional mortgage broker. Big name brands are not necessarily the cheapest options, so shop around. It is totally up to the mortgage broker what rates you are getting, so bargain to get a decent rate.

Peter Kopitz

Peter Kopitz is currently living in Bangkok, Thailand after graduating with Honors from the University Of Chicago Graduate School Of Business with a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is actively involved in researching economic and political development in Thailand, focusing primarily on property development, security analysis and investment banking.