What typically occurs in a real estate bubble?

In a real estate bubble, prices experience a rapid increase due to heightened demand, speculative buying, and often easy credit access. This surge in prices can be unsustainable, causing market dynamics to shift when the bubble bursts. After the rapid escalation, the market typically corrects itself, resulting in a decline in property values as demand lessens and buyers become more cautious. This volatile sequence of rapid price appreciation followed by a sharp decrease is characteristic of a bubble.

The other options present scenarios that do not align with the typical behavior observed during a real estate bubble. Consistent growth without fluctuations would suggest a healthy, stable market rather than the erratic nature of a bubble. A steady decline in demand for housing indicates market weakness, not the frenzied buying that inflates prices. Increased rental prices leading to housing shortages might be indicative of other market factors at play, but do not specifically describe the bubble phenomenon, where speculative investments lead to sudden price spikes rather than a steady increase in rental rates.