Rent a nice house for a year in the neighborhood you really desire. Then watch all the new listings trickle in everyday in all the neighborhoods you like. After 6 months you’ll get a good feel of where the market is headed. On weekends, are you run errands, drive by some on houses you like. Realtors will tell you that there’s nothing like knowing the market by driving around.

Most important, don’t get emotional. Think of buying a house as buying a computer. You want the best deal for the price.