I was looking through some Stats Canada data the other day regarding housing prices in Edmonton and Calgary, and the graphed indexes illustrate the current housing bubble in Alberta very clearly. I agree that the peak has likely not been reached yet (very difficult to predict accurately), but I don't think that it will have legs for much longer...
The following shows that the Alberta housing affordability index (30.5) is still lower than BC, Ontario & Quebec. http://www.rbc.com/economics/market/pdf/house.pdf
How would one find out about these deserted mining towns..?? which country are you speaking about...the usa or canada.... and what state or province... w