What we have is a totally propped-up market based upon debt. Energy isn’t producing positive growth, really. So instead of having real economic growth, we have inflated economic growth and inflated asset values.

When growth starts to decline, I think we’re going to see the valuations of assets decline considerably. It’s anyone’s guess how quickly they can fall, but according to what I have been looking at, I think we are going to see a 50% increase in real estate values right off the bat. I am not saying this will happen in a day, but the first wave will be a 30-50% decrease in real estate values when the markets really start to crack. They are already at the edge of the cliff — and I see prices falling down the cliff, struggling to recover, and then falling even further. Actually, I predict within the next 5-10 years, we can easily see a 75% or more reduction in real estate values.

This was part of my interview with Chris Martenson at Peak Prosperity. During the interview, Chris and I discussed how the disintegrating energy industry would negatively impact the value of most assets, Stocks, Bonds and Real Estate, while the precious metals would ultimately be the higher quality safe haven and store of value.

Out of all the analysts in the alternative media, I find that Chris Martenson’s work at Peak Prosperity gets closer to the root of the problem as it pertains to the future of our financial and economic markets.This is due to the fact that Chris focuses on energy and the Falling EROI – Energy Returned On Investment.

Unfortunately, most precious metals and resource analysts overlook energy.Thus, their analysis is likely flawed because they view the future as a continuation of “business as usual”, once the debts and leverage are taken out of the system.  This is an incorrect assumption because the debt and leverage have allowed our financial system and markets to continue to function well beyond its expiration date.Getting rid of the debt and leverage would cause a collapse of the system… one that we will be unable to grow back out of.