Editor's note: Lawyer and car-buying expert Adam Goldfein fills in for Clark Howard Monday the 19th - Wednesday the 21st of this week. Below is a summary of some of what he discussed. Visit AdamGoldfein.com for more information.

Have we finally hit bottom with housing prices? Encouraging data from the Census Bureau shows that new residential sales and building permits are picking up. Yet the latest Case-Shiller home price indices are not promising.

In markets like Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit and Las Vegas, home prices are down to their January 2000 values. Atlanta alone is down 11.7% year over year.

If you're looking to refinance, you need to focus on that appraisal. Don't rely on websites like Zillow.com. You need a real and accurate appraisal.

If you're looking to buy, now is the time if you have good credit and income. Combine that with mortgage rates at historic lows and this is a phenomenal time to buy.