Home prices are trending down as interest rates are going up.

Buyers say their dreams of owning a house are still out of reach with mortgage interest rates at 20-year highs.

"I thought by now things would get a little better, but it doesn't seem to be the case," says Stephanie Maccioli.

She has been trying to buy a house for over a year and says interest rates are going up too quickly.

Maccioli thinks there are still people going over asking prices even with mortgage interest rates at their highest since 2002.

According to one key Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Long Island's median price in September was $625,000, which is down from $639,000 in August.

Associate real estate broker Anthony Perrotta, of Signature Premier Properties, says house hunters can use higher interest rates to their advantage.

"I'm working with a lot of buyers that are kind of just getting reactivated into the market and they're realizing they don't need to make a decision like that - they don't need to compete against 15 offers," Perrotta says

Maccioli says she is continuing to look for her dream home, but still wants to see prices come down further.

"I'll still go out there and try, but I won't get my hopes up," Maccioli says. "I've already been heartbroken several times."

Home prices are around 4% higher than they were a year ago.

Experts say the purchase prices of a home are permanent, but interest rates don't have to be. If you can buy a good price, then you can refinance in the future.