Listening to the media can be very confusing when you are trying to decide whether to buy or sell now. Not only are reports conflicting but they are usually based nationwide, statewide or regional statistics. In fact, the housing market is very localized, meaning that you can have a down market less than a mile from a stable market. In addition, neighorhoods that have fewer homes on the market, sell at a higher price. Basically, it's still a market economy driven by how much money a buyer is willing to pay. This is why it is important to work with an agent familiar with the actual neighborhood you are targeting and how it compares to the broader market as a whole.