I have heard a lot of people say that the market just isn't any good right now.  That may be true because of the economy and perhaps not.  When the average consumer says "the market is no good", they do not have all the information. Sometimes, they just assume that if one part of the market is bad, that means all parts of the market are bad.

It really depends on your viewpoint.  Most consumers focus on the negatives, and they either do not see the positives, or just choose to ignore them.

Nowadays, a lot of sellers are unable to make their mortgage payments, and they end up losing their homes to the bank.  That's what a lot of people are focusing on right now.  However, there are a lot of sellers that see they owe more than the house is worth, and they decide they just want to walk away.  They figure they can get into a new home for less money before the foreclosure on the former property catches up with their credit report.  Most of the time, it works out OK in the short term, but the long term can have disastrous consequences. And even if they try to list (which would be the better way), they think they are not going to get any money out of it, so why bother?

The answer to that question is a "short sale" (selling a home for less than what it is worth with bank approval) will show better on a credit rating and save the seller a headache in the long run.  Seemingly, everything is based on a credit score and/or report, so the need to keep that score high is extremely important if the desire to buy anything with credit in the future is there.

The time to buy a home is now.  If you are looking at a home to own and call it your own, now is the best time to buy.  With all the foreclosures and short sales on the market, the chances are excellent that your dream home is available at an affordable price.  We have a very diverse society, and the likes and dislikes are just as diverse.  What one person thinks is lovely may be downright ugly to somebody else.  So in a "boom" market like we have had in the past, there was not as many homes on the market, and therefore less to choose from.  Now, with so many homes on the market, more than likely, there is likely a home for just about every serious buyer.

So, is the market good or bad? The market is very good.  Buyers are in a prime spot to buy what they want and where they want.  It's up to them.

So if you're looking to buy, don't wait another moment.  Call a realtor in your area today and find your dream home!  If you're looking in the Phoenix area, I would be more than happy to help you find it!