Here are a few lessons I've learned in the so called Buyer's Market of today's economy. I hope these tips help you on your journey to finding your dream home.

1. Having the perfect credit package does not guarantee you a great deal. The fact is the seller has real numbers that must be satisfied. Even REOs (real estated owned by lenders) have minimal expectations. In fact, they are sometimes content to wait for a rebound in the market. Don't be discouraged if your low offers are rejected without even a counter. This comes with the teritory of searching for the "blue light" special.

2. Which brings me to second point. You might want to bring a heavy dose of patience to the table.  The prize goes to the patient.  Know the numbers that satisfy you and your budget and stick to it. You will not make a lot of friends on your journey. But then again, do you want the sweet deal or more friends?

3. Know your objective. Maybe you do want the neighborhood, subdivision, school district, architecture, etc over the "sweet" deal. That's okay. Just know that you may have to yield to the stronger objective. If you're able to get the cake and eat it to...good for you. You are one of the rare ones. I've seen very frustrated buyers let their dream home slip from their grasp while bickering over a few dollars. In the end, they won the battle and lost the war.

4. Remain flexible. The best deals are deals because something needs something. A paint job, a roof repair, a lot of landscaping....to name a few somethings. The flexible buyer with a strong buying package has a much stronger advantage than the picky buyer with the perfect package.

5. And alas, BEWARE OR THE WATER COOLER LEGEND. Folks there's no other way to say this. People lie. If everyone got the great deals they acclaim, we wouldn't be in this fiasco in the first place. Stay focused on your goals and preplan your house hunting strategy before you get engaged. I strongly recommend writing your plan down. A written plan can really help when emotions are riding high.

I hope this helps with your search for that "sweet" deal. They're out there. Just keep real expectations and you  could be the next water cooler legend. ;)