Possibly - people tend to pull their money from stocks and put into RE when market is volatile.

I think it already has as some will no longer be inclined to spend from a decreasing net worth.

it could have positive impact on investors that looking to do something with their cash but it could also have negative impact on people need money for their down payments and they lost money in stock market.  

one direct positive note for this week are that mortgage rates are lower thanks to bond market

It's interesting John - the stock market drop won't directly affect housing, but like so many things in our interconnected global markets, the ripples will hit housing.

As stocks & corporate profits fall, layoffs follow, unemployment spikes, less people can afford houses and some people get scared to buy with so much uncertainty.  Home values fall, etc, etc.  It's a nasty cycle that hopefully we will not see unfold this year.

It will impact the decisions of many real estate investors and retirees.

John,

My financial advisor friends are not calling it a bear market.  Time will tell, and we are all going crazy for one reason or another.  The earnings are coming in and doing well, something is not jiving.  A

No I don't think so. There was talk this last weekend about liquidating yourself & getting out of stocks before it really gets bad. That's what I heard & it sounded a little paranoid to me personally.

Normally when investors do not make money in the market, they will invest in bonds as well as real estate. It may infact help the R/E market. One of the main issues that effects the houseing industry in the Over Regulation by the Gov't,as well as the Gio-Political climate,which may have a negative effect. So the answer WHO KNOWS!

John - I would imagine it would depend on if this was an anomaly, and the market will rebound in a short period of time, or if this is something that is long term.

Absolutely, declining value means less to spend and leads people to a more conservative mode!

Not yet, but the interest rates are still very low. 

I have lost thousands in the stock markets and none in real estate go figure John DL Arendsen 

Only if you are retiring and cash out of your 401K now.

Good morning John. It has much more to do with employment or lack of it and each market area reacts differently.

I'm sure this one will be fixed, but it can happen later that stocks will drop pulling all other industries down. I just talked to a client who lost all her money in 2000(?) stock crush. 

John DL Arendsen technically, it should not - but it may, though I don't want it to happen but it may happen...

(oops...what am I saying?)

It may affect everyone, as they may be afraid to invest in anything.  Even a house.

Even our stockborker told us to put money we could have used for a defined benefit program in stocks and instead to buy more real estate.

I think the market will bounce back.

I think it will cause people to re-evaluate their investments, which could send money into the RE market for rentals.

The volatility will affect more than financing, people will have second thoughts when their job is uncertain.

This is a great time to start educating your clients on the benefits of owning real estate vs. stocks.  Real Estate is real property and has value. Stocks are all speculative.

sometimes people sell stock and invest in real estate

To soon to really tell