For a brief flash it was like old times. Standing in a large booth on the show floor, near an impressive model of a tower project, a developer’s representative was pitching me on two developments in Mexico, large projects with vast aspirations and the need for investors.

More quick takes from the National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo:

The international exhibitor area is practically empty, a shadow of past years. “Way down,” said one veteran attendee, scanning the collection of a dozen small booths.

“It’s like we’re the lonely hearts club,” said one exhibitor.

On the show floor

Quick takes from the first day of the 2009 National Association of Realtors Conference and Expo in San Diego:

-The U.S. market will see a 13.6 percent increase in existing home sales in 2010, with inventories dropping to a six- or seven-month supply, close to historic levels, NAR chief economist Dr. Lawrence Yun predicts. Prices should appreciate by 3 to 5 percent in the next year, according to the the group's latest forecast. “I am confident we will have price stabilization,” he said. “I am confident the fear factor will no longer be in play in 2010.”

However, foreclosures are "not out of the woods yet,” he said. “It will turn worse before it turns better.” It could be the 2^nd quarter of 2010 before foreclosures begin to bottom out, although he doesn’t think the continued high foreclosure numbers will impact the market as negatively as recent months. “There is demand to absorb the inventory quickly,” he said.

Although NAR officials downplayed the implications, the association’s moves this week to create a nationwide property database and a new consumer site are almost certainly the first steps in a plan to dominate the on-line real estate business.

While nothing is official, NAR seems likely to jettison its relationship with Move.com, taking control of its own destiny. The association has also moved to make international business a top priority (see “NAR Reworks Approach to Global Business”), a new proactive tactic which could help position the group in a competition with the likes of Trulia and Zillow.