> and the banks demand a bailout.

Which will certainly be granted and thus Better Days *WILL* Come, at least in the localized "I'm taking practically no risk" sense.

The economy has always had ups and down. While that is no guarantee, it is a strong sign. Inflation means that rent will get cheaper in real terms just staying the same. Things will be bad - again - for a few years, not that is nothing unusual.

Of course real estate is very local. There is a big difference between property in a growing city and land in a rural small town.

So what is your solution that is impervious to a permanent or lengthy and gigantic downturn in the economy?