2010: The Year of the First-Time Buyer?
According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. But in real estate, 2010 may come to be known as the “Year of the First-Time Home Buyer.”

"There will be 1.84 million homes sold to first-time home buyers in 2010, compared with 1.73 million in 2009." says chief econofmist at Moody's Economy.com Mark Zandi.

Some experts stay these buyers will invariably make some mistakes that they will come to regret a few years down the road, one of these could be failing to use a buyer's agent to help them manage the transaction.

"I would want someone who is going to look out for my interests first and foremost," says Boss. "Someone who knows the contracts, who has experience negotiating, and who can walk me through the entire process smoothly — step by step — and make sure I get the house that's right for me." Source: U.S. News & World Report, Kimberly Castro (02/18/2010)