To say I am busy would be an understatement.  One of my clients, an asset manager in CA, said "it's because they are doing away with seller downpayment assistance" and everyone that was sitting on the sidelines have decided that they have to jump in.

I feel pretty stupid for not thinking of that myself.

However, I feel smart for devising the course of action (I am sure others have, too) that the U.S. Government should take:

1. Around September 25, pass emergency legislation stating that downpayment assistance is good for the housing market and that it will remain an option for government backed loans.
   
2. Wait for the market to slow down.
   
3. The U.S. Government passes legislation that says they will be taking away the down payment assistance option in three to four months.
   
4. Watch the market pickup (again).
   
5. Change their minds again and say it's good for the market.
   
6. Repeat until we catch on.

I would think that we can sell an extra 500,000 to a million homes by doing this.  It would do wonders for the glut of foreclosed homes on the market, which is dragging down many markets in general.