Each month, Fannie Mae conducts a survey to gauge how Americans feel about the housing market. The survey asks participants whether they think now is a good time to buy or sell a home, whether they think home prices and mortgage rates will rise or fall, and whether or not they feel secure in their job and finances. In September, the Home Purchase Sentiment Index remained fairly steady. Americans continue to be optimistic about selling a home in today’s market, with 74 percent of respondents saying now is a good time to sell. Buying sentiment, however, fell from the month before. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says home prices are the reason. “The survey’s story is also largely unchanged: Consumers feel it’s a bad time to buy a home but a good time to sell – and they continue to cite high home prices as the primary reason,” Duncan said. (source)