I'll be attending most likely, but I'm doubtful I'll buy a home this year. Waiting to see July home sales in a few minutes.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ahead-of-the-Bell-July-home-apf-4222412474.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=5&asset=&ccode=

"Many say the market is hurting because buyers and sellers are in a standoff over home prices. Sellers have unrealistic expectations about their home values and are listing properties on the high end."

"If all buyers perceive that home prices are coming down, then they will stop making offers -- and home prices will come down."

It does seem funny that sellers get offended when a low ball offer comes in. Do they consider how they offend possible buyers with their outrageously inflated home prices?

Hi, ironhide196 -- you don't need to wait for the national numbers to see what's happening locally. The Baltimore-area figures for July are already out.

Here's my story about them: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-08-20/business/bs-bz-july-home-sales-20100810_1_metropolitan-regional-information-systems-unsold-homes-greater-baltimore-board

Thanks for the link Jamie!

Existing homes sales down 27%. The metro area might not be as high but that number will have an effect on current home buyers regardless where they live.

That's probably true, ironhide, just as people probably pay more attention to the national unemployment rate than their own state's rate.

I bought a home last year when a mortgage broker told me rates would never be this low again. A real estate agent also told me at the time that home prices would never be this affordable. I am down 18% on my purchase and interest rates are way lower now. I wish I had never listened to those mortgage brokers and real estate agents. It seems they are just trying to sell because they make commissions.

James, I recognize your email address as a frequent poster's so I'm hoping you're making a point rather than sharing an actual bad experience. Either way, I recommend taking any "it'll never be this good again!" statements with a big grain of salt.

The future is difficult to predict. You probably don't want to base a home purchase on someone else's opinion about where things might be headed. It's a Caption Obvious statement, I know, but it's worth saying once in a while.

In math the constants are often unstable and hence hard to define. However, in Realtorspeak, there are several constants, that can be itemized as:
-great time to buy
-value will rise
-neighborhood getting better
-real estate value can only rise
-best interest rates ever

Unlike scientific constants, those in the Realtorspeak should safely be ignored.