The Bubble Debate

Who would you rather get advice on your new home from—a trained real estate professional who makes a good chunk of his or her income from commission, or a concerned citizen whose amateur web site attracts thousands of readers and commentators?

This question has sparked a debate among Seattle's online real estate community. On one side are real estate professionals who contribute to blogs like Rain City Blog and believe that sites should offer practical advice to potential buyers, and on the other are "outsiders" who contribute to Seattle Bubble and believe buyers should hold out and wait for prices to drop even lower.

"Real estate agents ... never advise their clients to wait a few months to see what direction the market is going. It's not in the Realtor's economic interest to talk any buyer out of buying a house today," one regular contributor told the Seattle Post Intelligencer. The bubble believers have perplexed many local real estate professionals. "I don't know what makes someone write about real estate when they're not getting paid for it," said agent Jack McCoy.

We think it would be a great idea to check out both resources, so when you make a decision about buying a new home, you'll have a well-rounded opinion. Have you heard of these sites before? Have you or do you know anyone who has used something similar to make their decision? [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]