If you really want to move, your safest play, IMO.
Dump your home, find a rental in your dream neighborhood, get a perfect credit score, put your cash in CDs, and start low balling March 1, 2008. Don’t let yourself get countered on your offers, just keep politely refeshing the same price each month. It may take a year or more, but your dream house will come true.
Being a contingent buyer down the road will kill your chances on the really good deals.