The buyers are out there but there are a lot of them not aware that there are still a lot of programs out there where you do not need that "perfect" credit. It all depends if they or their realtor deals with a conservative lender or a liberal lender. Unfortunately some of the people in the profession want to work with the A+ buyers (less paperwork - less work in general) but they are also missing the boat on a lot of the buyers. Yes, there are job losses going on but if you watch the help wanted - a lot of the jobs being lost are being advertised too. Too many companys take advantage when things are down and they clean house of anyone they were looking to get rid of but needed a good reason why before but do not need a reason now except to say "financial". Plus, you have the buyers not sure if they qualify and are leery to find out because you have the so called "professionals" out there who - if the people have credit issues, tend to look down their noses at them. I am not saying all of them do that but the ones that do have caused people to believe that they are all like that. So, the people would rather not try then be treated as though they are low lifes. Sad they would think that but it happens. Until you know someones circumstances you should not judge them

Most folks cannot afford to buy. The guidelines have changed & less buyers are qualified. The buyers who think they are qualified, end up not being. I also agree about the employment security. Who knows if folks will wake up and have there jobs tommorow. The media does scare people, but its also true in some ascepts that when people do lose there jobs, they can lose there homes. Foreclosures are the lowest priced homes out there like Slyvia mentioned & if you can put some sweat equity into it, you will get a lovely return. Some sellers are still not realistic & trying to make up for bad debt, but the ones that are priced right are still flying off the shelf in 30 days..so the good qualified buyers are there.

Buyers are not buying because they are scared and they are waiting to see what is going to happen with more price drops and the economy. The rates are so low now and there are a lot great deals. If you are selling and buying , it is all relative because you buy low and you sell low. You buy high and you sell high. The great thing about right now is the rates are low and it is winter which is a great time to buy because all the houses from the spring and summer are reducing . Buyers need to get the message that this is just a cycle and why not buy when houses are at a low price instead of sky high?

Wait another year to buy, save another 20%. Good Luck

I see just the opposite, Buyers are in our local market today. Remember, all real estate is local as is how the local economy further impacts the local real estate market. The big difference is real estate has changed and many brokerages and realtors have not adapted to both the economic and technological changes in buying and selling real estate. Buyers have zillions of choices for information including property web sites, trulia, zillow, yahoo as well as featured and showcase listings on realtor.com plus syndication plus blogs and microblogging sites. They are no longer simply picking the up the phone and calling a realtor for help. However, they are looking and if they are qualifed they are buying when they see a deal. Unlike most sellers, they are more familiar with the range of information online and they are using it to their competitive advantage in this buyers market. For example, they know when a home is overpriced. They know how to get market information and are less dependent on realtors who at times do not respond to an email or text or a phone call. I would recommend a re-look at your business plan and a re-focus on what you are doing to connect with them differently. Good luck, Emily Medvec

This is in response to Sylvie - bank foreclosures are not your best deals. They can be a risky adventure plus a lot of times they are not well kept homes either. If you are a realtor how could you even say something like that. That is a slap in the face to the home sellers out there - especially if you have any listings yourself - how do you think your home sellers feel?.
The market is no longer declining - things are starting to pick up a little but when people listen to the media or agents like you who promote buying foreclosures - you may be just creating more of them.

The media is playing a large part of this, however that isn't the only reason. The current economic situation is causing a lot of instability in the job market as well. Many of the people that were about to buy have decided to wait until they see whether or not they still have a job when the dust settles. If you don't feel secure with your income, you are not going to make a commitment to paying a mortgage. I have several clients in this category.

Many dont have the down payments, waiting for after election, holiday season are approaching. However our business is booming with no complaints.
http://www.lynn911.com http://www.homes-for-sale-dallas.com

The majority of people out there buying up homes are those first time home buyers. There are great deals to be had out there!! If one is hesitant to purchase a home, it could be because of the media. However, put yourself in their shoes. If you purchased a home last year, most likely your home has already come down in value. I believe people are afraid the market is continually declining and are waiting for the market to stabilize. Two separate couples I worked with recently that have sold their home decided to hold off on purchasing at this time -- they decided to rent for a year or two to see what the market will do. The best buys out there are the bank owned properties. It is very hard for sellers to compete against bank-owned properties.

I, too, agree that the media has been one of the biggest forces keeping buyers from jumping into the market. Besides the issue of when and/or if we have hit bottom, the reports of lack of credit availability is keeping many from even looking. As REALTORS, I believe we all need to be proactive in letting buyers know that there is still credit out there for those with documented income and decent credit. For the first-time homebuyer, this is a great time to become a homeowner.

Best wishes,
Christopher Rich
William Raveis Real Estate

i agree, the media has horrified people with there sensationalizing headlines of woe. The buyers who are ready to buy have been getting incredible deals, low 30 year rates and leave teh closing smiling ear to ear. They are so thankful for the assistance they have received, they are so thankful for the opportunity to get a house they never thought they would have only 2 years ago. The pride and sheer emotion they give off are so rewarding and make me remember the reasons i love my job as a realtor.

I believe the media has scared them too much. Although it is a good time to buy from all they see and hear in the news they are too scared.