Real estate prices in the United States have plummeted over the past year. Not only have have home & commercial prices fallen, high demand areas such as New York City have even seen a price drop. With these types of prices, one has to wonder, is it time to invest?

Whether it is or not is, of course, up to the individual, but history is on the opportunistic investor's side. Over the past three decades, home prices alone in the United States have more than doubled and prices after the recession are likely to rise again.

With the international economic crisis bringing the real estate market to it's lowest point in years and sellers eager to make a deal, now may be the best time to buy.