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Whatever happens in Las Vegas doesn't necessarily stay in Las Vegas.

But that's a good thing when it comes to home buying.

During the National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo in Las Vegas last week, Realtors released a survey the reveals an overwhelming majority of consumers believe buying a home is a deal they can take to the bank.

Nine out of 10 consumers say buying a home in today's housing market remains a good deal.

The real estate association's National Housing Pulse Survey also revealed 59 percent of those surveyed said right now is a good time to buy a home.

Consumer optimism about the housing market doesn't come without some concerns.

When asked how easy it is to obtain an affordable mortgage, almost six in 10 consumers said getting a mortgage approved is not an easy task. And more than eight in 10 consumers said finding enough money for a down payment and closing costs are also obstacles to buying a home.

Affordability is also an issue.

Nearly seven in 10 of those surveyed said they are concerned about the cost of housing in their communities.

Pat V. Combs, president of the National Association of Realtors said even though consumers have financial concerns in today's soft housing market, they understand owning a home remains a good, tangible, long-term investment.

Sellers, on the other hand, would like a little less conversation and a little more action from the housing market.

Published: November 26, 2007

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A journalist for 35-years, Broderick Perkins parlayed an old-school daily newspaper career into a digital news service offering editorial content and consulting services. Perkins' San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group includes the flagship news site, DeadlineNews.Com, offering real estate, personal finance and consumer journalism, and a backshop, the Deadline Newsroom.