“As the crisis deepened, it seemed like a game of whack-a mole; every day there was something else that might prevent real estate finance from continuing. From appraisers being leery of setting foot into strangers’ homes and people not wanting strangers in their homes to county courthouses closing to an inability to verify employment, all the very basic parts of lending.” --MBA President & CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB, discussing the state of the real estate finance industry during a recent 'Walker Webcast.'

Real estate, long the favorite way to invest and for many a path to wealth, fell to second place this year as more Americans take a gamble on the stock market, according to a new report from Bankrate.com, New York.