FYI -- yes, I now see I have a double "not" in the title of this article.  No, I did not intend for that to be there, but I'll leave it there for now to see who is paying attention.  ;-) 

Thanks, Nate, for pointing me to this insightful article at MarketWatch...

There's not enough homes for sale. Here's why to blame.

Here is a summary of the reasons why we're lacking inventory:

1. Boomers won't move
    
   
2. Landlords won't sell
    
   
3. Owners are hooked on low mortgage rates
    
   
4. Builders ignore entry-level buyers
    
   
5. Regulations add costs
    
   
6. Owners want to restrict supply

And, the author's ideas for how buyers can respond to the situation:

• Be realistic about how long it will take to find and buy a home. Real-estate agents can provide an estimate, based on market conditions.
   
  
• Save plenty of money for a down payment and reserves.
   
  
• Improve your credit score to get a good mortgage deal.
   
  
• Be ready to make a competitive offer when a suitable home comes on the market.
  

It's a great article -- read it all here -- and I think much or most of what they are talking about from a national perspective applies very directly to the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County housing market.