The Real Estate Market Is Now Bottoming Out Alas, the real estate market is completing adjustments to the real-world economic conditions. The price of housing is affected by many things happening in the economy: the jobless rate, the stock market, oil prices, inflation, credit availability and mostly, the perception we all have about the economy because it affects the way we spend our money. There is a big shake-out of houses being sold while others are being removed from the market. Many who were trying to sell and could not over the past year are just "giving up" and taking their house off the market; better off keeping it. Anyone who has their house on the market right now is selling for definite reasons such as: they can't afford the upkeep any longer or they are selling due to a change of circumstances(non financial - job relocation; trading up or down etc.). So, if you see a For Sale Sign in front of a house, it means the owner must sell and they're ready to deal. They will bargain and if they do not accept your offer, it means they can afford to wait - and they will. Every owner, even if forced to sell for economic reasons, has a "bottom line." It is now a prime-time to be looking for a home to purchase and with these historically low interest rates and sellers who are looking to move, conditions couldn't be better for buyers. Depending on the city and location you are looking to purchase in, prices have leveled and/or may have fallen anywhere from ten to thirty percent. The market has indeed adjusted to reflect the economy. Some areas are seeing prices as if we are back in the year 2000; other areas have remained stable and in some cases have not declined in prices. However, what ever area you are looking at, prices have "bottomed out." It is the opinion of this author that if you are planning to buy a home, do it now. Don't hang around waiting for prices to continue to go down.  If you know where real estate is going, please let me know and send a comment. This is it. If you see something you like, get your best deal and start enjoying it now! Contributed by Maury Jazzetti Website: http://www.betterlifestyles.com