ANY idea what the nation's most talked about topic is? Is it the state of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's marriage? Or is it the latest goings on in Eastenders or Coronation Street? Could it even be the soap opera-style shenanigans both on and off the pitch at Newcastle United?
Anyone game for a bet would probably have put their money on the latter. But pontificating over the latest soccer club headlines seems to have been surpassed as the nation's favourite pastime.
All anyone over a certain age is discussing at the moment is house prices - and whether they are going to fall.
The media has been full of warnings for the past few months that the housing bubble is set to burst. But, for every expert predicting the end is nigh, there has always been two more prepared to talk the market up.
Slowdowns, as seen over the summer, have been explained away as seasonal blips. Optimists have pointed to the UK's solid economic growth and historically low borrowing costs, as well as high levels of employment and increasing wages.
A shortage of housing in the South East has also been cited as a sure way of insulating prices from a fall.
While there are still plenty of industry experts prepared to look on the bright side - especially in the North West where a recent Nationwide survey predicted a number of property hotspots, including south Liverpool and Wirral, would ride out any slump thanks to the jobs market, neighbourhood characteristics and house price to income ratio - some very big financial heavyweights are now openly preaching caution.
The most notable is the City regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA). In its annual Financial Risk Outlook, it says, while it expects the economic environment to be "relatively benign" this year,, there are short and long-term risks which could affect this. And it says the weakening housing market is one of the main dangers.
The FSA is warning that consumer confidence would be adversely affected, which would lead to a slowdown in consumer spending. Unemployment would rise as industries such as construction, estate agents and retailing came under pressure.
All of these factors would have a negative impact on the stock market and consumers could see the value of their investments fall - as well as their homes.
