Weak Dollar Could Help the Housing Market

NEW YORK (AP) -- The weakening dollar has caused many problems for consumers, but it may also be providing the fuel for one unintended -- and very welcome -- benefit: a rally in the struggling housing market driven by foreign investors. The theory goes that foreign investors step in and replace first-time home buyers who have been squeezed out of the housing market during the recent downturn. These new investors in turn allow current homeowners to sell and trade up to larger homes. That will help restart owners moving up the housing ladder, a process that had been key to economic growth in recent years. Some mortgage brokers are already seeing a boost in inquiries about buying property from overseas. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071110/wall_main.html?.v=2