This Week's Featured Listing: 100% financing on sweet Boiling Spring Lakes home 

Wonky is not exactly a real estate term, but it may be the best one to describe today's market.  Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the trend vanishes.

Here is something else wonky. Mindful of the old saying that ask five economists the same question and you will get 10 answers (they can’t agree with each other let alone themselves), there is some agreement among national economists on what’s happening in real estate and what is to come.

One of these is Lawrence Yun, who is the chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®. In analyzing the December numbers that show existing home sales down but prices on the rise, Mr. Yun says the market is going through periods of swings driven by the tax credit. His prediction? “We’ll likely have another surge in the spring…by early summer the overall market should benefit from a more balanced inventory, and sales are on track to rise again in 2010.”

We see inventories balancing soon, and that’s when we really see a flip from buyers to sellers market. It’s starting to happen here, however slightly. For buyers, it means this is the time to get in on the deals for beach properties, golf properties, second homes, retirement or relocation.

For sellers, it means the wonky days are going to fade in the next six months.