Real Estate

If you're buying a home right now, you have plenty of reasons to feel good: Interest rates are low, and housing prices around Boston, while not the mind-boggling bargains you might hope for, are overall considerably lower than they were at their peak in 2005. And while the $8,000 homebuyer tax credit expires Friday, there are lots of good deals to be had.

With the sales season under way, we canvassed local real-estate brokers and housing market specialists for tips and broader home-ownership wisdom.