I got stupid and bought some homebuilder stocks a little while back. Looks like I'm going to have to hold on to those for a few years if I ever want my money back.

But my loss is your gain--homebuilders are desperate to find new buyers, and they're going to great lengths to rope 'em in:

Faced with falling sales, some builders are helping would-be buyers spruce up their current home by bringing in professionals who advise them on what furniture to get rid of and tell them whether they should rip off the wallpaper. Others are offering to make payments on the buyer's old mortgage (or the new one) in an effort to close the deal.

There is also renewed interest in so-called buyback programs: The builder, or a broker, agrees to buy your current home, for a preset price, if it turns out that you can't sell it.

If you waited around during the housing boom, thinking things were getting too expensive and you were sure the market had to become more reasonable, you were right. Now you get to reap the rewards.

So, if you've always wanted to build your dream home, now's the time to do it. You're in the catbird's seat, and there's a deal out there waiting for you.

Go build something. My stock portfolio will thank you.