We’ve got a great collection of expert quotes for you. Sharon Natarus shared a slide-show with me that I thought was a good ‘pep-talk’ for buyers and sellers. We’ve pulled a few highlights from the show, and also provided the quotes to read. I hope you find it helpful!

CBS Early Show
CBS Early Show money maven Ray Martin weighed-in on the Saturday Edition about whether buying is indeed the way to go now.

Question: Is this a good time to Invest in Real Estate

Answer: “Yes, it is, and for a number of reasons. For one thing, housing prices are declining just about nationwide. Plus, mortgage rates are at a serious low. Rates on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage are at a level we won’t see again in our lifetime. Finally, if you buy before December 1, you’ll get an $8,000 tax credit if you’re a first-time buyer. For all those reasons, there’s really never been a better time to go shopping for real estate.”

NBC Today Show

“For the first time in a long time, you can actually get both a short- and long-term gain on a real estate investment. With prices down, interest rates at record lows, and so many would-be buyers deciding to rent instead, it’s a great time to buy a real estate investment.” — Barbara Corcoran

Forbes.com

Ten Things to Buy Before the Economy Improves: “At the top of the list: housing. This may be the best time in a generation to buy a home.”

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

“It’s a good time to snag a bargain if you’re confident in your job prospects and you don’t plan to sell for at least five years.”
– Pew Research Center Survey

75 percent of those surveyed said it was a good or very good time to buy a home.

Nationwide housing affordability surges:
National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo & Co. Housing Opportunity Index: percentage of all new and existing homes that were sold in the last quarter which were affordable to families earning the national median income.

NAR’s Affordability Index: Percent of the income necessary to qualify for a conventional loan covering 80% of a median-priced existing single-family home. The index has been calculated since 1971.
The index rose to an all-time high of 158.8 in December. In July 2006, the index bottomed at 99.

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