"This is a good market to get into while it's in a down cycle, because I believe it will come back soon."   David Brasfield, a real estate investor, commenting on Gulf Coast real estate in a special advertising section of the Wall Street Journal today.

    Yes, of course the market is in a down cycle, but it will take years for the overbuilt Florida market to snap back to normal.  And what qualifies the confident Mr. Brasfield, who owns a software business in Birmingham, AL, to postulate that the nutty Florida real estate market "will come back soon?"  Actually, he owns a luxury home in Destin, FL, which he has listed for $5.2 million.  Oh, yes, he dropped the price $500,000 recently.  And, surprise, he has had it on the market for 18 months.

    If you believe his prediction about the Gulf Coast real estate market, he may have the perfect house for you.