Should First-Time Buyers Take The Plunge in Today's Market?, an article from the Real Estate Journal, reports that according to real-estate industry professionals, factors are aligning to make this a good time for first-time buyers to be in the market because they don't have to face the challenge of selling a home in order to buy another.  Other factors in the buyers' favor are that home prices are dropping, there is a glut of inventory to choose from and interest rates are still relatively low.  First-time homebuyers will be faced with tighter lending standards than they were last home buying season.  Also, buyers are now generally required to have higher credit scores and bigger down payments.  Tom Kunz, CEO of Century 21 said, "This is one of the best times that a first-time home buyer has had in a long, long time." 
http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/tactics/20080328-hoak.html

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Running on empty...
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19728

Housing: Where the candidates stand
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/27/news/economy/candidates_housing/index.htm?postversion=2008032716

Fannie, Freddie may raise $20 billion
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23841972/

Sellers Rely on Marketing Savvy, Incentives in Tough Climate
http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/tactics/20080328-beals.html

Curb Appeal Sells Homes, Survey Says
http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2008032704