real estate questions....

[CamusEatsSumTum]

I think someone questioned you publicly here before, and I think its a good idea because the posters here are more intelligent here than in other sections of this website.

My first question has to do with inflation in real estate prices and this so-called bubble.

Has there previously been a real estate crash that we can study?

How exactly are real estate prices set, similar to stocks, that a house is worth as much as someone will pay for it, so for there to be a crash, several people would have to lower the price of the house they are selling.

Ive read that recently several investors have entered the real estate market which is responsible for the boom: Why would these investors decide to sell at a lower price, as opposed to just holding their appreciating asset and renting it out?

How can you judge whether a property is at a good price? Is it in relation to the amount it would cost to rent a similar property. How do you figure the rent of a property? Is it a percentage of a properties total value?

sorry if these questions are too vague or stupid or broad based.

if you have any book recommendations that would be great.