I would think odds do not favor low energy prices ahead. It is just common sense basically. Certainly prices could fall back from time to time. Overall though the trend should be to higher prices. This inflationary period is being driven by more factors than the average one has been. It is also worldwide pretty much.

Americans are luckier right now. In Canada we had two really bad policies established. Government guaranteed lenders for morgages and new cars. Plus almost zero interest policy . This allowed homes to sell at well above any sane amounts.

On average a two percent increase in interest now would increase their debt obligations by 800.00 a month. A four percent increase by 1600.00 a month. So by and large the option of raising interest rates enough to really at least even hold prices is just not here.

Average price of a tract bungalow in the hotter areas of Canada is over a million dollars. If I gave a person a half million dollars to go buy a home it Toronto or Vancover they would come back empty handed. Or the place would not be livable. A high percentage of the Canadian population have been degraded into only the payment being affordable matters. As a result the average Canadian is carrying a much higher debt loading than the average American. Gambling is exactly that and you do not always win. They brought the cool aid that houses where on an upward spiral that would never end

. I just hope the house of cards does not collapse while deflating. Deflating for sellers is underway but not for buyers when the new interest rates are factored in. Not so in our area where they are still inflating in basic selling prices as well. The causations of people not really understanding what they are doing is to me a problem. Lack of judgement or commons sense seems to be pretty endemic these days. All the forms of the media are of little help or guidance.

As the dollar devaluates in spending value. Yes I can see it bailing many people out. If they can sustain through the period till that occurs. To me that kind of stress where all or nothing has no appeal to me. Everyone gambles in life to some degree. Usually if the odds favor us in general though. Marital breakups still have financial stress as the number one breakup issue. Life is hard enough without stacking the deck against yourself.