There is a terrific and one of the most balanced articles I've seen regarding the housing market and potential for people buying now...while the market is nearly bottomed out.  It is Dave Kansas, editor at large for FILife and former WSJ editor, who wrote the "Wall street jounral Guild to the end of Wall Street as we know it"   YOU GO DAVE, this one article today may have put the balance we've been seeking into our marketplace.  Real estate is always a good investment, you just need to know why you are buying and be realistic about your expectations.  What a concept! 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124010083844932175.html   This link takes you to a very nice printable version and ability to email it to clients.  THIS is one that is going out to my clients...because it's a darn good article.  Happy Sunday the end is in sight.  Dave starts the article with...

"Some people think it's a good time to buy a house. Is it?

In the past few weeks, home-sales data have perked up from very low levels. At the same time, home prices continue to fall in most parts of the country and mortgage rates, while ticking up, are at remarkably low levels.

All these data raise an intriguing question: Is now a good time to purchase a home?"

Lisa Haney

DAVE - It's important to address the salient caveats. First, we are extremely unlikely to return to the boom-boom era of home investing reached earlier in this decade when prices soared 20% and more per year. Long-run historical data indicate that homes generally match the inflationary trend, rising about 3% a year. 

Terrylynn - You really want to read this, the highlights of the article are explained in depth for the buyer or seller to understand completely - take it away Dave... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124010083844932175.html

Buy Carefully  (ohhh you'll love what he says about this)

Don't Hunt for the Bottom  (what Realtor doesn't want the client to understand this)

Know what you want.  (sooo important to the buying process, people think they know, when do they know)

Be ready to pounce.   (how long the market conditions last???  this is good for buyers to understand in order to get the best buy they can)

Negotiate closing costs.   (often sellers WILL do this but as multiple offers on foreclosures come into play how long will that be a possibility...Dave explains this very well)

Get an inspection.  (OHHHH YES, important to do when buying anything!!! Tips here on what to do with what the inspection tells you.)

Terrylynn - then Dave finishes with..."Real-estate investing can still be pretty dicey in the current market. There may -- or may not -- be money to be made. But buying a home is all about providing a place for you and your family to live. And as home prices settle at lower levels, you just might become a homeowner much more economically than anyone has in a long time."