For most buyers, it’s a great time to buy.

If you are a first-time buyer who doesn't need to sell a home, you have an upper hand in today's market and should attend a buyer education program. Also, if you are "moving up," it's a good time to do so. Although you may have to settle for a lower sale price on your current home, the price of the higher-end home you want to buy has also dropped. In addition, investors interested in the long-term couldn't ask for a better market!

With today's inventory and interest rates, most people who want to make a move to a new home should seriously consider doing so in 2008.

Anyone looking for a home today will find a tremendous selection - nearly 17,000 new and existing homes. There are 30% more homes on the market today than there have been in the first quarter of recent years.

The number of buyers in the market today is typical for first quarter in central Ohio. The number of homes for sale, however, is up by 30%. The result is that sellers are pricing their homes competitively and are eager to work with qualified buyers.

To our dismay, the media often neglects to include local figures in news articles. Since all real estate is local, statistics about the central Ohio market would better inform home buyers and encourage them to feel good about the value of real estate here.

If you have a home to sell, take extra care in getting it ready for the market. You are competing with a 30% increase in sellers, so your home must stand out by its cleanliness, state of repair, and neutral decor.

For first-time buyers, central Ohio offers a number of resources to help you learn about buying, financing, and maintaining a home. Take advantage of what organizations like The Columbus Housing Partnership can offer (614-221-8889). Financing is readily available for those with a steady job history and suitable credit rating. Your lender can easily tell you at what interest rate you qualify.

To investors who like to hold real estate for the long-term, today's market is a gold mine. The number of properties competing for buyers along with the low interest rates make this the perfect investor market.

"Moving up" in today's market is an excellent idea. If your home was valued at $300,000 last year yet you must sell it for $270,000 today, you may have lost the opportunity to earn the $30,000 difference. However, you can assume that the $500,000 home of your dreams also is selling for 10% less, thus saving you for $50,000 on the price of the new home. Guess who comes out on top ... you do!