Is now a good time to buy a firt home?

I read the news that the housing price is going up, and in order to get a $8000 credit, the buyer needs to close the house before the end of Nov.

Now we are approaching the end of the summer, and if people want to move (move to a good school district or move to a new area), most of the good deals are gone. Am I right?

Will the house price keeps going up since it's so close to Nov now? Is it true that the housing price usually drops in the Winter (b/c not many people looking at houses in the winter). If I want to get a good deal, should I wait for winter to buy it or should I buy it now?