Last Sunday night Channel Nine's Sixty Minutes program ran a report about mortgage meltdowns and the impact on real estate, titled "House of Cards".

The story commenced with the global credit crisis which originated in America, and how its effects have been felt throughout the western world, including Australia.

The general slant of the story was that the price momentum is shifting in the downwards direction, and the fallout is only just beginning...

Whilst there are some fundamental truths in this story, it is important to remember that current affairs programs do approach their subjects with an angle, and in this case it is quite clear that this story was ratings-driven and they were looking for maximum impact.

The Sunshine Coast market will be impacted by national and international factors, but just how severe this impact will be, is academic at this stage.

However, there is still lots of activity in the local market, with bumper sales months, breaking records. If the market slows, it may mean that vendors price expectations need to be adjusted, as buyers will have a greater choice, and will be anticipating greater bargaining power.

With the steady population increase on the Coast and the attraction of the area to 'sea changers' and retirees, it is unlikely that prices would plummet to the point where people would be experiencing the negative equity nightmare that faces some suburbs profiled on the Sixty Minutes programs in Sydney's north-west, for example.

Unlike the American market, south-east Queensland has a demonstrable and chronic shortage of housing, and this shortage has kept prices quite high.

Traditionally a cyclical industry, peaks and dips are a healthy component in a free market, and real estate activity is heavily influenced by economic factors, such as interest rate movements, inflation, credit availability and consumer confidence.

It's inevitable that the media will run 'doom and gloom' stories, their motivation is to attract attention; but it is important not to get swept up in the negativity and remain focused on your goals, whether it be buying or selling.

Keep informed but don't despair, the Sunshine Coast market should remain reasonably robust, as the natural beauty of this area will continue to attract new residents.