The U.S. housing market appears to be on the verge of emerging from the worst real estate market in three years, according to a survey done by HouseHunt. Sales activity increases were reported in many areas in the past three months (California, Arizona, Florida); first-time buyers continue to bring vitality to the marketplace all across the country; buyers with good credit are able to get mortgage financing; inventories of unsold homes are flat or decreasing in many areas, and listings with the lowest prices in nearly a decade are being cherry-picked in many communities, according to HouseHunt's latest random survey of current market conditions across the country. Even repeat buyers are starting to leave the sidelines.
 
Many HouseHunt member-agents interviewed in this quarterly survey also reported they're using the government's $8,000 tax credit incentive for first-time buyers as an effective marketing tool.