Thanks to high rates of foreclosure and too much supply, home prices in these cities have fallen.

* PLUS: Housing Outlook 2011: When Home Prices Will Head Up
* AND: Ask the Editors: Real-Life Home-Buying Guidance

You must mail your tax forms and supporting documents to claim the credit.

* PLUS: Deductions for Homeowners
* AND: FAQs on Home-Buyer Tax Credits

Learn how mortgage interest, property taxes, rental property and tax-free profit affects your tax return.

* PLUS: Tax Breaks for Buying a Home
* AND: Home-Buyer's Survival Kit

A couple of pros share their hard-nosed approach to buying low and renting high.

* TOOL: Rental Cash Flow: Do the Numbers Add Up?
* ASK KIM: What to Know if You Rent Out Your Home

The deals on foreclosures and short sales can be great but these properties may come with more baggage than you bargained for.

* PLUS: All About Rents, Costs and Taxes

The more you know about the home-buying process, the more money, time and hassle you'll save.

Your goal is to get the most money possible, whether in a hot or cold market. The more you know, the bigger your profits.

Before you make an offer, know how motivated the sellers are.

Contingencies protect you and your buyer, but they can also sabotage a sale.

Prices are attractive, but it's still tough to make the numbers add up.