Market cycles only become clear in retrospect. In the midst of a market slowdown, it´s very difficult to predict when housing prices hit their low points.

Timing the market almost never works!  Real estate is a cyclical business.  What goes up must come down.  More importantly, what goes down has always come back up. Home values will most certainly continue their long-standing trend of appreciation over time.  Home ownership is best viewed as a long-term investment like the stock market or any other sound investment. Click here for 20 year Historical Appreciation on Homes.  Once the market settles or shows any sign of improvement, opportunities start slipping away.  Even a 10% drop in home prices is immediately nullified by a mere 1% point increase in interest rates on a 30 year mortgage.  Let me assist you in making a well-informed decision.

Falling home prices are a great opportunity for a savvy homeowner looking to move up.  Even though your home sale price may be lower, the smaller loss at sale can be compensated by greater savings at purchase.  Spotting Opportunity in today's market!

The number of Americans using the Internet to find real estate is climbing steadily.  To help make your online real estate searching more effective, take a look at the 5 Top Blunders of home buying and learn how to avoid the common pitfalls of online real estate searching! The new tax credit in the stimulus bill goes up to $8,000 and is non-repayable (unlike last year's ineffective credit program).  It's intended for first time home buyers, but under the program definition you're a first timer as long as you haven't owned or co-owned a house during the previous three years. Click here for more information on 2009 first time Home Buyer Tax Credit. The state of North Carolina has had less than 1% foreclosures, and the Cashiers area has had very few foreclosure properties. Click here for chart showing Top Foreclosure States. A self-directed IRA lets you purchase property with your retirement funds and realize the more predictable, steady growth that real estate has to offer.  For more information about purchasing real estate in your IRA click here.