Americans still uncertain about fate of housing market

As the real estate market continues to send off mixed signals, a new poll finds that Americans are unsure what will happen in the coming months.

A nationwide survey by Fannie Mae found that 68 percent of people feel that the current economy is favorable for those looking to buy a home, a ratio that is down 2 percent since June. At the same time, the number of people who say it is a poor time to buy a home is up 3 percent to 29 percent.

"Consumer attitudes toward buying a home are more negative since last quarter," said Doug Duncan, vice president and chief economist, Fannie Mae.

In terms of home prices, 25 percent of respondents said that they expect home prices to rise over the next year, while 22 percent feel they will drop even further.

Despite instability on a national level, the prices of Houston homes have remained steady over the past several months. According to the Houston Association of Realtors, the local median home price in October was up 0.7 percent compared to October of last year.