CNNMoney is predicting real estate prices in the Washington, DC, area will fall by 17.1 percent next year:

Forecast 2009: Your home

As we’ve stressed numerous times on this site though:

• your housing needs, rather than the value of your house, are what’s most important
• many neighborhoods buck the trend of the overall area
• declining prices can lead to some great investment opportunities

And, of course, not all predictions become fact!