As real estate market softens, players need to adapt

For all-weather real estate players, a flattening market means changing one's tactics, not burrowing away to hibernate until the market warms up. For sellers, it means getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with the toolbox of techniques developed during the down periods of the 1970s, '80s and '90s to move houses. For example, seller financing, where you take back a second note on concessionary terms to push the sale, take back a first note if you can afford to, or "buy down" your purchaser's interest rate to lower monthly payments.

Experienced real estate brokers can fill you in on these strategies, along with their pros and cons. They can also guide you on how to price realistically to sell now, not five months from now.
For buyers, down markets often offer exceptional opportunities to acquire real estate at prices and on terms that were unthinkable just a few years before. Again, the message is: Don't go to sleep. To the contrary, get off your duff and scour the market for properties that may never be cheaper, or even available.

http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-08072006