A Boston TV station is reporting on the 'sea change' in that housing market. "Say goodbye to the inflated prices in the housing market. There's a sea of change in the real estate market in Masschusetts. Median prices are down and so are house sales and inventory is up, so it's a buyer's market. The landscape has changed a lot, even in the past few months, so if you're in the market to buy, how low can your offer be?"

"The Duffys just closed on a four bedroom home in Norfolk. Compared to last summer's asking price, their dream home is a bargain. 'We were looking at houses that were more expensive, knowing we could go in there and offer less,' Danielle Duffy said."

"In July, the home listed for $729,900. 'We ended up buying it for $630,000,' Duffy said." "With prices dropping and inventory high, many buyers feel the market is theirs to manipulate. For the first quarter, sales of single-family homes were down 8 percent, and the median sales price was down 2 percent from last year."

"The industry calls the soft market a correction, not a bubble burst. Sellers can still make a healthy profit, but those fat sale prices must slim down. 'For the seller, I would say price the property according to the market. Don't have an inflated number. That doesn't work. What happens is you carrying the property, and 99 percent of the time you end up having less,' Realtor Dee LeBlanc said."

"Gail Peckham is hoping to make the most of this new real estate reality. She's been shopping for a condo in Waltham for 12 months. 'I wouldn't offer asking price today as I would have last year, because I know I could get less,' she said."