As I have done in previous years, I am taking a break from answering questions from readers, and instead will try to predict the future of Real Estate in the Washington area.

Real Estate continued its unbelievable boom this past year. Prices of houses soared. Mortgage interest rates -- albeit moving slightly above 6 percent -- remained steady. Even Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan expressed surprise that the rates stayed low, especially because the Federal Open Market Committee has been raising its target for the federal funds Rate, the short-term interest rate it controls......