David Phelps is suffering the slow real estate market. His house has been on the market for eight months. He has even considered leasing it.

"There were some people that wanted to lease the home, and that was an option and I decided not to go that route because I wanted to sell it and have that off my mind," said Phelps.

In the Jefferson City area, sales of homes are down 119 units this year from last.

"I do think gas prices have an affect on most everything everyone is doing. So I think I attribute it to consumer uneasiness," explained real estate agent Dana Wildhaber.

The average time a house is on the market is now longer. It was 86 days in 2007 and 94 in 2008. Real estate agents claim this is a buyer's market, and they said when you're evaluating your own real estate needs, look locally, don't pay attention to the national picture.

Other conditions such as historically low interest rates are helping buyers.