Well, isn't it like a Ponzi scheme? As long as people keep buying in then it remains propped up. In this case, it would be increasing housing prices (so the straw buyers/whomever could always turn it over for the same/more and never be in trouble.)
That doesn't seem to be the case any more.
However, I once saw (on these forums) that you can't EVER go wrong investing in real estate.

Buy these properties NOW - OR BE PRICED OUT FOREVER! NOW! NOW! NOW!