UF real estate expert Tim Becker says, until we see more jobs and an improved financing market, the housing industry has no where to go, but down.

"If we can start getting some job growth happening in the state things will start to get better slowly over the course of the next year, but it's really going to be a tough 2010 and hopefully a rebound in 2011, but it really depends on what the job market looks like," say Becker.

But, if you can afford to do it, Becker says you won't find a better time than now to buy a house. Plus, the government's tax incentive for purchasing a house won't end until April.

He says now is also a good time to consider a career in real estate - to learn how the market really works and make money once it improves.