Buyers get what they want.
Experts from the Urban Land Institute predict that homeowners will continue to buy smaller, more energy-efficient houses. Since people are looking at first homes as a ten-year commitment instead of the previous five-year, they are less likely to settle for a property that's less than ideal.

Sellers, attention to detail and competitive pricing is key.
With plenty of houses on the market, homeowners trying to sell their property will have to keep prices competitive. All small repairs should be completed on the home because potential homebuyers will have many houses to choose from in their price range and will be looking at details sometimes overlooked in the past.

Qualified buyers come out ahead.
Mortgage rates are still low and are expected to remain in the five percent range for the upcoming year. Mortgage lenders have tightened their lending policies, but qualified buyers who have good credit will be able to secure a mortgage at a low percentage rate. Lenders expect that borrowers will have a down payment and have a debt to income ratio that ranges from about 30-45 percent.

Demand for new homes may increase.
Forbes predicts that by the end of 2011, there will be a need for new houses because current building trends are not keeping up with population demands. This could eventually lead to a shortage of housing at some point in the future. Buyers interested in purchasing a new home may find prices that are higher than expected if building continues to be slow.

Cash is king.
Investors who can buy property with cash are at a huge advantage this year. Prices are already low, but sellers may be willing to accept an even lower cash offer to avoid having to deal with lending institutions.