Realtors want your business.

According to HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research, 2006 fourth-quarter home sales were down 10 percent from the same quarter in 2005. That means there are far less homebuyers out there today than a year ago.

“When it was a seller's market, there were so many homebuyers out there that a Realtor tended to abandon a homebuyer if they did not purchase quickly. Today a Realtor feels fortunate if they have a homebuyer and will work diligently to satisfy their needs,” says Bill Bell of The Bell Group Real Estate in Syracuse, N.Y.

Susan Solari Williams of Re/Max Hollywood Hills, Calif. agrees. “We’re eager to work with new homebuyers. And we understand that in order to earn homebuyers’ loyalty and ultimately close a deal with them, we have to maintain strong relationships and make sure their needs are well-met," she says.