考研英语2008年Text 4原文节选如下：
If you were planning to sell your home this summer, you'd better get cracking. The housing market has picked up sharply since the beginning of the year, with the number of homes sold in March up 15.3% from the same period last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. The market is on track to sell about 6.4 million homes this year, the most since 2005. The surge in demand is being driven by a combination of low interest rates and a steady increase in the number of people who want to own a home. Many homeowners are taking advantage of the low interest rates to refinance their mortgages, while others are buying new homes.
The housing market is also being helped by the fact that there are fewer homes for sale. Inventory of unsold homes is down 11.4% from last year, the lowest level since early 2004. That's partly due to the fact that many homeowners are not willing to sell their homes at a loss, but it also reflects the fact that the number of homes being built is falling. The number of building permits issued last month was down 5.9% from the previous month, the largest drop in four years.
The surge in demand has driven up prices. The median price of a new home sold in March was $240,000, up 4.4% from the same month last year. Prices are also rising in the resale market. The median price of an existing home sold in March was $205,000, up 5.2% from the same period last year.
Despite the strong market, there are some signs that the housing bubble may be starting to burst. The National Association of Realtors reports that the number of homes for sale is beginning to rise again, and the number of homes being foreclosed on is also increasing. This could lead to a glut of homes on the market, which could put downward pressure on prices.
However, most experts believe that the housing market will remain strong for the rest of the year. "The housing market is on solid ground," says David Seiders, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders. "The demand for homes is strong, and there are plenty of homes for sale."
The key to a successful sale, he says, is to price your home correctly. "You have to be realistic about the market," he says. "If you price your home too high, you won't be able to sell it."
答案：根据上文，2008年考研英语Text 4主要讨论了美国房地产市场的情况。今年房地产市场表现强劲，销量上升，房价上涨。但是，也有一些迹象表明房价可能开始下降。尽管如此，大多数专家认为今年房地产市场将继续保持强劲。
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