There follows a weekly message from Edward de Bono. The index to the site contents follow after the message.

MESSAGE FOR WEEK BEGINNING 27th October 2008

Property Market

When the property market is falling buyers tend to wait until it falls further. Why buy now when yhou can get a lower price in a few months' time? So the market falls further because some people need to sell and lower their price.

We could create a new type of contract. You sell at today's price but contract with the buyer that in a year (or two years) if the house price index has fallen by a further twelve per cent then you refund that twelve per cent to the buyer. There is now no point in waiting. So the market stops falling and you may not have to refund anything. This could be a new type of contract which anyone could be free to use.

Edward de Bono
15th October 2008