[durasell]

Oh that? It's already started. I was recently offered the services of an American-born woman who cleans houses for about the same price as an illegal.

But what people don't realize is that a housing bust means more than isolated markets taking a hit or a few realtors getting the boot. It will impact the guys who build the houses, the guys who build the stuff that goes into the houses, and the guys who haul the stuff that goes into houses, etc. etc. etc. Then, of course, there's the landscapers, the architects, lawyers, accountants, etc. etc. etc.

[Nathan Zachary]

If things go bad, they may have to fire their cheap nanny, or cheap gardener, or cheap laborers.... And those stuck with high debts and no work will be wanting those "jobs nobody wants to do".

There is another problem. All this cheap illegal labor is putting downward pressure on wages.

Our costs are going up, something has to give. That 'adjustment" these stock market experts keep talking about IS going to happen sooner or later. We've just been lucky that consumers have managed to spend, and spend some more and keep the economy going.

I think this trend will continue, until that spending money is sucked up by something else, like fuel and interest rates.
Then something will have to give.

[steve86]

I was recently offered the services of an American-born woman

Please, this is meant to be a family forum.