If you've been waiting to get through the holidays and closer to warmer weather before beginning the search to buy your first home, you're not alone. The traditionally busy spring real estate season is just around the corner, meaning heavy competition looms. But there are things you can do as a potential homebuyer to get a head start.

The number of home sales in 2002 shattered records with 5.56 million existing and 979,000 new homes sold throughout the country, according to National Association of Realtors chief economist David Lereah. Home sales this year are expected to dip slightly, but remain robust.

So with that in mind, many indicators point to a strong sellers' market in parts of the country this spring, meaning the competition to buy may be fierce. It's already gaining momentum in some regions.

"The real estate market slowed down somewhat over the holidays, but is beginning to pick up again in and around Coral Springs," said Leanne Valdes, a Realtor in Coral Springs, Florida. "Because of the low interest rates, there are still more buyers looking to purchase than sellers wanting to sell. Properties that are in average-to-good condition and priced correctly from the day they are listed tend to go very quickly for full or near full price."

It's similar in Southern California.

"Buyers are returning to the market in force and interest rates remain low," said George Greiner, a Realtor in Newport Beach, Calif. "All the conditions that were in place last year (low interest rates, low unemployment rate, strong local economy and lack of available inventory) are in place again this year."

There are some things you can do to improve of landing in a home, including:

Published: January 28, 2003

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