"Shadow Inventory"

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2010/dec/23/new-home-sales-rise-55-percent-november-ar-733522/

Although the housing market is still struggling to recover from the recession, this past November recorded another national increase in people buying homes. Although we had an increase in home sales, the market still has a lot of catching up to do.

The primary concern for 2011 are the current levels of inventory, not to mention the onset of shadow inventory. "These are homes that are in the early stages of the foreclosure process but have not been put on the market yet for resale...when these homes are added, the inventory level would actually be about double where it is now."

Looks like it could be a while before sales return to healthy levels, but at the same time...with interest rates at all time lows, a surplus of inventory, and depressed property values, THIS IS THE TIME TO BUY!!!