Is now the time to buy, or the time to wait?

[Samantha Soto]

Hi everyone,

I've got another downpayment burning a hole in my bank account.  But I'm wondering what you all think of market trends right now in terms of purchasing for buy and hold.  I have seen prices rise in many areas of the country, and interest rates have risen slightly (although I know they are still historically low).  In your opinion, is now the time to keep buying, or should I continue saving and wait for another down cycle.  I know if the deal is good enough it's probably always a good time to buy...but I mean if you are looking at the market as a whole and not just at a specific deal.