You probably already heard this: the Federal Reserve will continue its policy of keeping interest rates low in order to stimulate the economy. But it's very likely you didn't notice the actual effect of that decision: 30-year fixed mortgage rates slipped to 4.9%, lowest in more than six months. There is nothing more stimulating for the real estate market than dropping mortgage rates, so the reported 6% increase in new mortgage applications last week comes as no surprise.

The recent crisis gave rental owners a pretty hard time. The rising unemployment, problems with credit availability and general depression caused prospective customers to wait and hesitate.

Here's what surveys say:
- 89% of property owners think that rising unemployment contributes to vacancy rates
- 50% of property owners think that people looking for apartments can't afford the rent

After the dust falls, there's sun coming from behind the clouds. So after the recent recession this might be the right time to have a look at the real estate market once again. So it might be a good time to invest but it's difficult too. The investors are slowly coming back, so you have to compete for the property.