Why the tanking market makes real estate a good investment

With home prices in the toilet, more than a few financial journalists and pundits have lined up to write the eulogy for single family homes as an investment.

In the Wall Street Journal, M.P. McQueen writes (subscription required) "While sales of low-cost housing are picking up, for many, a house is back to what it traditionally was: a long-term financial commitment, a sturdy shelter and a place to hang your hat." According to McQueen, "housing prices have turned homes into shelters, not investments."