I also read Jim the Realtor’s site. He sounds like a person who is well aware of the market. I beleive that he only sells North County Coastal.
The problem with working with a Realtor right now is that the Realtor always has an expectation of making a sale (that’s the only way he gets paid). No one will work with you for a sale in 5 years! They’ll think you’re not serious.
Sure a Realtor will find you a good deal right now. But will that deal remain a good deal if the market continues to decline?
Jim also wrote that “superior” properties will only decline 10%. Will he want to sell you a “superior” property so that you’re insulated from a decline? Can a buyer today be insulated? I don’t think so. I beleive that all properties will decline at least 40%-50%. It’ll happen at different times in different neighborhoods.