bob o'brien is the us real estate services leader at deloitte. o bob, tell us how important is the buying & selling of homes and buildings and offices to the overall economy? > > well it's incredibly important. with respect to residential real estate improvements in residential real estate values and confidence in that market improved consumer confidence and consumers, as you know, drive two-thirds of the economy. > > so that's sort of a psychological impetus? > > a psychological impetus, but the fact is they think they have more money to spend. and on the the commercial side, commercial real estate is highly dependent on a strong economy but we have seen a strong recovery in commercial real estate over the past few years. all right let's take a look at the two separately now. first residential we've seen some growth, we have some stats there. there's a lot of uncertainty though about government policy and what congress is or isn't going to do who. so what does 2014 look like on the residential side? > > well we expect to see continued improvement

bob abernethy. good to have you with us. the supreme court heard oral arguments in a major case about public prayers before government meetings and whether they violate the separation of search and state. tim o'brienlf began with an invocation. >>> the house and senate routinely begin with prayer. >> let us pray. almighty god. >> reporter: the supreme court ruled 30 years ago that doing so does not violate first amendment prohibition of government establishment of religion. this week's case from greece, new york, a predominantly christian suburb of rochester may test the limits of such prayer. the prayers that open the town board monthly meetings are almost always christian as are those who give them. >> we acknowledge the saving sacrifice of jesus christ on the christ. >> father alex bradshaw, a frequent prayer giver is typical. >> from his resurrection at easter, jesus christ, who took away the sins of the world. >> reporter: a federal appeals court in new york ruled a town unconstitutionally favored the christian faith. after observing that two-thirds of the prayers offered contains references to jesus, your son, or the holy spirit. attorney tom hungar defending the town of greece in the suprem

bob abernethy. good to have you with us. the supreme court heard oral arguments in a major case about public prayers before government meetings and whether they violate the separation of search and state. tim o'brien reports. >> o yea, o yea, o yea. all persons having business before the honorable supreme court of the united states. >> reporter: the court's hearing itself began with an invocation. >>> the house and senate routinely begin with prayer. >> let us pray. almighty god. >> reporter: the supreme court ruled 30 years ago that doing so does not violate first amendment prohibition of government establishment of religion. this week's case from greece, new york, a predominantly christian suburb of rochester may test the limits of such prayer. the prayers that open the town board monthly meetings are almost always christian as are those who give them. >> we acknowledge the saving sacrifice of jesus christ on the christ. >> father alex bradshaw, a frequent prayer giver is typical. >> from his resurrection at easter, jesus christ, who took away the sins of the world. >> reporter: a federal appeals court in new york ruled a town unconstitutionally favored the christian faith. after observing that