The financing right now is really tight. Also the expectations of the buyers.

The feel since the market is soft they can come in $50,000 below list price

I think the toughest part about buying a home right now is actually finding a home that suits your needs and interests! Because there are so many homes on the market right now, I think buyers are becoming overwhelmed by the many choices out there. They see one home one week and another comes on later that looks just as good as the others they've seen. People are just waiting to see what the market will do.

Coming to terms with the compromises you have to make. Even when you build a custom home, there are compromises (probably even if you spend your entire lottery winnings...) Deciding what to insist on and what to give up can be very difficult. For many, the biggest problem is facing the reality of what they can afford. That's partly why there are so many foreclosures out there!

Making sure that you are making the right decision all your research supports your decision