Nationally 50% of home buyers in the first quarter of 2009 were first time home buyers and nearly half of sales were foreclosures and short sales. Take a look at Sandy Oregon's sales for the past six months. You'll find of the 103 total sales for residential properties 83 were under $250,000. If this isn't affordability, I am not sure what is! The $8,000 tax credit is helping a lot of buyers get into their homes.