Homebuyers are less willing to buy foreclosed properties than they were six months ago, citing risks like hidden costs, but demand could grow because of the government’s expanded tax credit, a survey showed on Tuesday.

A continued drop in demand for the glut of foreclosed properties would add a fresh layer of pain to a housing market just emerging from a three-year nosedive.

The percentage of consumers at least somewhat likely to consider buying a foreclosed home fell to 43 percent in November, sharply below May’s 55 percent, according to a survey by Harris Interactive.

The survey was conducted November 5-9 on behalf of Trulia.com, a real estate search engine, and RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosures.

Buyer expectations are becoming more realistic, Trulia Chief Executive Pete Flint said on a conference call.

Next year "government interventions will start to disappear, shadow inventory will hit the market and mortgage rates will start to rise" to around 6 percent from under 5 percent, he said. "We’re in a false state of stability."

Shadow inventory includes houses that banks now hold but have yet to put up for sale.

Double-digit unemployment will push more owners into foreclosure, further destabilizing the housing market and pressing prices down another 5 to 10 percent, said Flint.

Some closely watched measures show prices have toppled by about 30 percent on average from 2006 peaks. Although prices are rising in some areas, the survey found lingering concern about buying now, when prices could fall still further.

Demand for foreclosed properties, which are often deeply discounted compared with other homes on the market, is of particular concern. RealtyTrac expects over 3 million properties will receive at least one foreclosure notice this year, up from a record 2.3 million last year.

About half of those properties will ultimately go back to banks, RealtyTrac said last week.