"So, what's going on with the real estate market?"

"Dear Sacramento Estate Gal: What's going on with the real estate market? Thanks, Everyone You Know Who Isn't a Realtor."

Well, you might as well ask. What's happening isn't great - if I have to liken it to having a baby - and I do liken everything to it lately - it's a little bit like the first trimester. It makes you feel nauseated and not quite all right, you have no sense of the baby moving at all, so you don't feel pregnant, but it's still fun to wait and watch.

And then there's the worrisome AFP screening to get through, so you're praying everything will be all right in the end.

But seriously, here's why a lot of business has dried up:
- many buyers who want to buy can't - there are no zero down loans (for now)
- many buyers who want to buy and can can't make up their minds about prices and how much to pay
- too many buyers are interested in deep, deep discounts
- move up buyers (those who want to sell and buy) are stuck competing with foreclosures
- and lastly, those darn short sales don't help comps.

So now you know. (Need I remind you first-time buyers that I told you this would happen and that last year was the time to buy?)

But I'm still holding on to unshakable optimism that history will repeat itself and everything will be all right in the end.