Debate:how to burst the real-estate bubble?

The crisis that swept through the US in August 2007 is not over yet and the international repercussions will be deep and lasting. When the housing bubble burst in August 2007, it shook financial markets worldwide. This housing crisis is closely linked to a private debt crisis in the world’s most industrialized countries. Clearly this crisis will be with us for several years. With perhaps worse to come.

KARACHI: International capital is desperately looking for a home.

What tools could we use to reestablish accessible prices in the property market that seems to be growing endlessly?
The neoliberal response continues to be “more market”, while we believe – partially because of the failure of this ideological practice – that we need a consistent and qualified return of public intervention.
But clearly this would not be sufficient to deal with the effects of neoliberal globalization in the cities and the weakening of public authorities.

Using this website as a global virtual meeting place, lets start exchanging information, analyses, and proposals from allover the world.
Lets try to paint the real picture of the situation and to discuss the possible common initiatives in order to try to confront the property market that might seem unstoppable, but is not.
Inhabitants’ associations, tenants and consumers, committees, urban social movements, activists, local entities: your contribution with analysis, ideas and skills is fundamental for bursting the real-estate bubble.

Cesare Ottolini, coordinator of IAI (International Alliance of Inhabitants), May 2006

Send your texts to info@habitants.org

Don't Buy a House, Rent One. Buy a residence at half price. Invest with a profit of 2000% over two years

by Francisco Eppur Muove (www.viviendadigna.org, Email: info@viviendadigna.org)

Original

SHENZHEN, 10 may 2006 (XINHUA) -- Confronted with the running-up prices of lodging, Zou Tao, a citizen of Shenzhen -a special economic zone in Guangdong (south)- called in late April in an open letter to the Chinese public for not buying flats for 3 years to normalise the market.