There are still deals to be had. Here are 3 of the most common ways to get a deal in today's market:

1. Take advantage of a poor listing. Inferior photos or a seller who doesn't accommodate showings can lead to a home lingering on market. If I know that a property is better in reality than the listing shows, then it's a great opportunity and I implore my clients to make the effort to see it.

2. Negotiate. Obvious but it's amazing how many people are hesitant to write low offers for fear of offending the seller or wasting time. There's a lot of money at stake, and writing an offer costs no more than a piece of paper -- and even that's unnecessary with electronic signatures. I've negotiated well over $1 million off the listing price of a prime property in a good market. Persistency and tenacity still add up to money in your bank account, even in a hot market.

3. Off MLS properties can offer either incomparable quality or an exceptional price, and if you're really lucky, both. I talk to a lot of people to find these deals -- if you know what you want and are prepared to act, then we should talk so that you're getting access to things you won't see on the MLS.

Before we dive in to this week's activity, it's worth noting a significant development in the mortgage market: credit is getting easier to attain. A year ago the average FICO credit score of a mortgage receipient was 750, and today it's 734. That's good news for the many qualified buyers who had previously been shut out of the market. For more details on this important trend, please click here.