In many parts of the country, sellers have finally gotten the message: They can't be so stubborn anymore with their asking prices. For buyers, now is the time……… For those hopeful buyers, now is the time to make a deal! Some of us know that for the last two years, the real estate market has been quite stormy which appear to have created an ideal situation for bargain-minded house hunters. My real estate colleagues consistently say a switch in the psychology of the housing market has helped buyers to see the potential in negotiating a good deal with the seller which is something the seller’s have realized they needed to do. "We are now in a solid buyer's market," says David Lereah, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "It has been a seller's market for many years, but now we are seeing people across the country making deals and bringing prices down."

A loss of confidence on the part of real estate investors triggered the psychological switch, he says. "What happened was, investors pulled out in droves, and the housing markets went dead," Lereah says. "When the investors stopped buying, regular buyers got scared." That fear drove many house hunters away, thinking that housing prices would continue to fall and waiting to see what would happen. "At the same time, sellers refused to bring their prices down, and so buyers had no real incentive to get back in the market," Lereah says. "With everybody sitting on the sidelines, the market came to a standstill." But while demand is picking up, there is still that large supply overhang," says Mikey Levy, chief economist for the Bank of America. "And while the numbers are starting to come up for sales, prices still have a bit to drift before they start rebounding." So, do some research and get ready to negotiate, negotiate and re-negotiate until you it feels right. CNNmoney/Bankrate.com. To contact a mortgage consultant – e-mail lucier@babbalu.com!