The American dream has always included home ownership. However, with foreclosures mounting and home values plummeting, for some that dream has become a national nightmare. Trying to decide whether to buy, sell or rent a home in the current real estate market can be tricky, but there are ways to hedge against loss.

The first thing on many buyers’ minds is: Are housing values going to continue to fall? While no one has a fail-safe crystal ball, the foreclosure crisis does not appear to be over in many places. (more…)