[quote=paramount]So in general, would the near term (~6 mths) be a bad time to acquire real estate?[/quote]

Yes, it’s a bad time, IMHO.

The end of 2008/beginning of 2009 was a good time — when the private mortgage market which pumped up the bubble had disappeared, and the govt-backed mortgages and various incentives were in the future.

Now, we are going to see an end to the govt intervention, as most of the risks that could be transferred to the public have been transferred. This was ALWAYS about saving the banks, and that job is done. Now, they will pull the plug, and allow the deflation to happen, IMHO.