[laserboy]

Unfortunately there is no single source for this kind of information. The nature of bubbles dictates that they are not well documented until after the fact. You will have to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

Let me ask you a few leading questions though... Do you understand why lenders allow people to wield such enormous leverage in buying real estate? Do you understand why they are making loans today that they would have never dreamed of making in the past due to the inordinate amount of risk involved? Read about current trends in the mortgage industry (125% financing, interest only loans, subprime lending), the GSE's (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), and historical debt/income ratios.

My personal opinion is that current lending practices are fundamentally unsound and will not survive as interest rates continue to rise and the economy continues to deteriorate.