The U.S. housing market might not be quite as deathly ill as it was a year ago, but no one is suggesting--to stretch the health metaphor--that it will get up and run a marathon any time soon. In fact, the industry is wheezing and gasping a little at the thought of the looming expiration of the $8,000 first-timer tax credit, so plans have been hatched in Congress to keep the credit in place.