Now that the country is in the heart of a recession, it may be time to go shopping for a house.

There's plenty of doom and gloom out there with talk of layoffs and foreclosures, but if people really look, they may see a silver lining in the economy.

The low interest rates mean a lower payment, and the surplus of homes means asking prices are going down.

"If you're a first time buyer or you're in a position to consider it, this may be the time for you," said Heather Davis Richards of Essential Knowledge LLC. in Merriam, Kan.

First, Davis Richards said, know what's affordable.

"We recommend no more than 30 percent of your take home pay for your mortgage," she said.

Get pre-qualified for a mortgage. It'll make negotiations much easier and give buyers some leverage.

Understand the role of the agent. Most real estate agents work on behalf of the seller.

"Remember, you're making a major purchase and you're with someone who may not be working for you," she said.

Finally, do research. Don't necessarily go by the list price. Do some digging to find the market price.

"Any real estate agent can provide comps, comparable statistics of what homes in that neighborhood have sold for," Davis Richards said.