[quote=bearishgurl]But I think the arguments used by these “doomsayer” posters (ESP the ones that were highly motivated to buy, qualified to buy . . . but didn’t – Jazzman and many others come to mind) aren’t valid because they are comparing apples to oranges.

This OP-FTB thanked Jazzman for his “sage” advice, lol, yet he wasn’t successful in purchasing a home here! Of course, the OP didn’t know that until I pointed it out.

Buyers need to be told straight up what they can and can’t do with the resources they have. They need to be helped to find a suitable property by a qualified agent, which they can qualify to make an offer on, unless they decide to suspend their search until a later date.[/quote]

Well I’m not clear the fact that I didn’t buy in CA disqualifies me from responding to the OP, or that the advise was somehow amusing. I also like to think that I was “successful” by not buying in CA. Logic seems to have eluded you somewhere along the line. However, I agree that buyers need to be told straight up, which includes suggestions other than from those connected professionally to real estate, as they provide useful antidotes to the rot that got us into this mess. I am very aware of the irritation (exempli gratia “doomsayers”) caused to business-as-usual Realtors, but I have no sympathy. Nothing personal BG.