What’s the biggest change in the economy lately that truly affects us all…the price of gas. If you are like me, you have been keeping a close eye on the ever dropping gas prices we have been experiencing in the past weeks. I bet the company that sells those large numbers displays that the gas station use is busy sending out the number “two” as I am seeing what was once $4.55 per gallon down to $2.95 per gallon. (I heard yesterday that Costco in Livermore is $2.76)

So what do gas prices have to do with the real estate market? Well directly, probably nothing! Although the argument can be made that people can again afford to commute and thus secondary markets outside of the main business centers will thrive again. Or someone can argue that the lower prices in fuel will help the economy and as the economy improves, so does the job market and with the government lowering interest rates, buyers will again be able to afford homes and this will be the spark we need in consumer confidence.

While all of the above may be true for the market, what I take from the situation is much greater and valuable.

What we (again) learn from this situation is that the experts cannot predict anything correctly. Wasn’t gas going to be $8 per gallon by the end of the year like it is in Europe? Weren’t we all going to stop driving SUVs? I have listened to many economists provide their prediction on the real estate market, the fuel market, the job market and they are all as accurate as the weather man (who said it was supposed to rain today??) The truth of the matter is that no one knows what is going to happen next.

Just as quickly as gas prices went up, they came back down even faster. Just as quickly as home prices went up, they came back down even faster. So who is to say that things will not again ignite going into a buying frenzy as prices are at levels not seen in the past five plus years.

Whatever your crystal ball shows, stick with it. Don’t let the predictions set forth by the so called “experts” make your decision for you. Just as gas prices and home prices went up, they came down. And just as they came down, they will again go up. The market is a roller coaster ride that never ends - when you want to get on this ride is up to you.

Chris Kamali is a TriValley Real Estate Agent , helping clients buy and sell homes in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore.