2004 - 2005: Realtors tell everyone prices can't go down, real estate always goes up, and "are you missing the boom". 2006's message? You're in trouble.

Blood-sucking leaches do OK as long as the host keeps living. But in this case, the millions of realtor blood-suckers may be in a spot of trouble, as homedebtors go bankrupt if they sell.

Homes ain't sellin' = realtors ain't gettin' paid. Suzanne ain't eatin' anymore.

So what do they do? A full 180 - and now they're out there (led by the corrupt David Lereah and the NAR) telling homedebtors to sell at any price, get real, and forget everything they told them in 2004 and 2005. Oopsie!

We're in full crash mode now - so drop that price 'til it hurts and let's move some dead inventory (and make our commission and Lexus payment)!!!

At a recent meeting with her Las Vegas real estate firm's 200 agents, Joanne Levy told them they needed to deliver a stark message to clients. They would tell them that unsold homes are at a record level and sellers need to lower their prices.

In other words: the boom is over.

"They want the 2004, 2005 market," Levy said of today's clients. "We don't have that."

With stubborn sellers refusing to relent on asking prices, many prospective buyers have kept their hands in their pockets.

Some industry observers fear that bull-headed home sellers could worsen a downturn by driving up the inventory of homes for sale and running off would-be buyers.

"There is a lag period between sellers' expectations and the reality of the marketplace," he said, and shaking them out of their high-price fantasy "is more psychology than science."

But cold facts are staring some homeowners in the face.

Despite these truths, real estate agents say, many sellers continue to overreach on their asking prices.

"I try not to list those properties," California Association of Realtors President Vince Malta said of the overpriced homes.

In the meantime, many agents say they are in a difficult state of flux.