The Wall Street Journal has a good article about the opportunities for first time home buyers. Good homes in good areas are affordable again for regular working people. That is definitely a silver lining in the crash of home prices. There is also a new tax credit to help first time home buyers which is further explained in a CNN article. CNN explains the current program, the proposed program in the Stimulus Bill and some of the limitations.
See:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123431356988570855.html
http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/29/real_estate/tax_credit_near/