At some point in their lives, every home buyer in America has wondered "Is now the best time to buy a home?" In this 3-minute video, NBC's The Today Show does a good job of answering the question.

The conclusion? Yes, but not if you're going to overpay.

The Buyers Market is ending, we learn, as home prices rise across most of the country.  Pockets of opportunity remain, however, and the focused home buyer can still find a "good deal".

Some of the video's tips include:

• On what types of homes can you get the best prices
• What you can learn from looking in a seller's closet
• How to identify a desperate seller

The piece also goes negative on short sales, noting the amount of time required to buy one.  Short sales typically do take longer to close versus a "traditional" purchase, but that doesn't mean they should be avoided. 

There's plenty of bargains in the short sale arena, too.

Origially posted at The Blair Group.