20 predictions for real estate and the economy | By Joel Ross

Here are some thoughts from a recent major real-estate conference on where the industry and economy are headed: 1. No expert or economist who spoke was willing to make any prediction of where we will be in three years. 2. Development is dead for all real estate for at least three years. 3. Recovery will be slow. GDP in 3Q was over-inflated due to cash for clunkers and other stimulus. The first part of 2010 will be 1 percent to 2 percent GDP growth.