If the U.S. housing bust triggers a recession, you can still profit in the financial markets. Investment advisers tell their clients to buy bonds when the stock market is in a prolonged tailspin. But investing in under-valued property can be a great strategy.

Household income crept higher and the poverty rate edged lower last year, the government has reported, while the number of Americans without health insurance rose by 2.2 million to 47 million people. Median household income rose 0.7 percent to $48,200, adjusted for inflation, the Census Bureau reported.