While recently speaking to a group of residential real-estate agents at one of Nashville's leading firms, I was somewhat surprised to hear that some owners and buyers think the well has run dry in regard to home loans.

I was surprised to hear that because our business is good, with the addition of new loan officers as the most recent indication.

Then I realized that my worldview is not typical for someone outside the mortgage business. With recent headlines of Wall Street bailouts, bank closures, increased foreclosures, short sells and the like, no wonder some might perceive a lack of loan availability.

Let me clear up this misperception. The facts are this:

Lenders still have money to lend to qualified borrowers.

Lending is still alive and well as long as Freddie Mac and Fannie May are alive and well — and they are, since the federal government recently took them over.

Interest rates remain extremely low.

For those who do not have much money to put down on a house, government loans (FHA and VA) and certain down-payment assistance programs are still available.

Today's lending climate is no different than it was a few years ago, at the height of the real estate market, with one exception: Borrowers must now provide documentation — such as tax returns, paycheck stubs and credit reports — to prove that they are, in fact, a good risk for lenders. The difference in this climate is that the days of 100 percent financing and "loose" documentation standards are gone.

For homebuyers, this is the perfect opportunity to buy. Again, rates are low, and loans are readily available. For sellers, being realistic is key. For both buyers and sellers, the services of a professional Realtor are critical. People in this market need to listen and heed the advice of a professional real estate expert who can help establish reasonable expectations regarding a property's price, condition, negotiation and the countless other details involved in the process.

Since real-estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime, it only makes sense to partner with a professional who brings knowledge, expertise and contacts to your home buying and/or selling situation.

In my experience, the housing market will eventually return to a healthier state. In the meantime, however, maybe those considering selling or buying residential real estate should consider the advice of investment guru Warren Buffett: "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."

Hart Weatherford is the owner/president of Nashville-based Farmington Financial Group.