Vilan,

There are opportunities in every market and I think your thought process is correct. It may be "simplistic", but the reality is that it may be a great time for you to move up and take advantage of current conditions. You have good advice below including Brad's suggestion to "Find an agent that is on top of the market and cares about your needs... "

Not all markets are declining.

For instance here in Atlanta some areas are feeling the effects more than others. Suburbs of Atlanta such as Alpharetta, Suwanee, Brookhaven, & Sandy Springs have not seen a huge decline in home prices, but longer days on market.

Your comparison to a falling tide is excellent. Keep in mind that when the tide falls sometimes it will expose islands and these are the areas I'm describing. In a normal market they don't stand out too much.

Vilan-

That's an excellent way of looking at the market, and it works to a point, particularly for the move up buyer. Let's say you live in a $300K house, and are planning to buy a $500K house, which is an additional $200K. Then things change and you decide to wait. When you relook at the market, your $300K house has fallen 10%, but so has that $500K house. So, you sell your house for $270K and buy the new house for $450K, a difference now of only $280K. In essence, you've saved $20K.

The trouble for most sellers, is that the $30K they lost was 100% lost from the equity of the home, which means they have $30K less to put down on the new house. For many home shoppers, that $30K could mean the difference between having enough of a down payment to get move-up home they wanted.

And then, if you apply a larger decline than 10% (which sadly, much of Arizona has seen), many home shoppers have little, if any equity left they can move from their current home to a newer, larger home. Home owners of 10+ years or longer (that didn't refinance their home and take cash out) can probably still move up, but home owners of 5 years or less are likely in a break-even, or even underwater position.

Vilan,
If the property you are selling is less in value than that you are buying you are going to be making a great move. Now, if it is the other way around.. you will be loosing more %%% than gaining. Either way, it doesn't matter if need to sell or want to sell, you will be purchasing at the best time ever in real estate. So sell you home at low price and buy at a low price. Negotiate well and make your $$$ on the buy.
Find an agent that is on top of the market and cares about your needs and you will be fine.
Good luck in Sahuarita,

Hi Vilan,

For the most part, you're right. A decline in the housing market affects most properties across the board so it will all be relative. Certain markets, however, have retained their value fairly well. The Tucson luxury market has sustained itself relatively unscathed through the past few years. Areas that are highly coveted and already built out have also seen values maintained or decline only slightly.

But for most consumers a slow housing market affects them just the way you thought of it: You may sell your house low but your purchase will also be reduced that much.

Many homeowners are realizing this and are taking advantage of the situation by making the move to another house (newer/bigger/larger lot/etc.).

In simple terms you would think if you are buying low you are selling low. Depending on teh property, the area and its condition, some houses sell higher and when buying you can find a great deal and buy lower than the average you are making out on both ends. When looking at teh market as a whole yes that average would be considered correct, but indibidually it is always buy low and sell high.