Almost half of Long Islanders surveyed predict local housing prices will stay the same over the next few months, according to the latest News12-Hofstra University poll.

The poll numbers suggest that most Long Island residents no longer see the housing market as volatile. Twenty-seven percent say they believe prices will rise in the coming months, but not steeply. Seventeen percent see prices modestly decreasing.

Syosset realtor Fern Karhu says the Hofstra poll confirms the stabilization she's seen in the field.

Stable housing prices, coupled with low mortgage rates and stimulus offers for first-time homebuyers, have experts predicting the market will soon begin to pick up.

Final resultsPoll summary