In many parts of the country, home sales are rising, the supply of available properties is shrinking and the market is again tilting toward sellers. That's a source of frustration for aspiring homeowners who are tight on cash.

"Cash is king when it comes to home-buying, and that's always been so," says Mary Kuehn, a long-time real estate agent affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (www.crs.com).

Before she'll take any buyers on a property shopping tour, Kuehn insists they first see a mortgage lender to assess their readiness to make a purchase. This is what's known as the mortgage "pre-approval" process. Often, first-time buyers emerge from such a meeting with the realization that they lack sufficient savings for a down payment and closing costs, not to mention moving expenses.

Making an all-cash offer -- the ultimate competitive bid -- is beyond the reach of most first-time buyers. But saving for a down payment and related costs is possible for many who have steady jobs and a systematic approach to savings.

Here are a few pointers for buyers:

-- Evaluate your attitudes about spending.

Financial planners say there are many parallels between the struggles of dieters trying to cut calories and the struggles of savers. In both cases, emotional impediments are often to blame for lapses.

Shawn Koch, a planner affiliated with the Garrett Planning Network (www.garrettplanningnetwork.com) says many home-buying aspirants "come to financial planners hoping for a miracle. But we're not miracle workers."

One approach to helping overcome emotional barriers to saving is by reading up on the topic. A good place to start is "Money Harmony" and other books about financial psychology that are co-authored by Olivia Mellan and Sherry Christie.

"The reality is that most people have to get into 'hunker down' mode before they can become serious savers, and that means an adjustment in attitudes," Koch says.

-- Begin with an inventory of your current financial situation.

A major impediment to saving is uncontrolled everyday spending. But before you can decide how to reallocate your funds, Koch says you need to review where all your money has gone for at least one to three months. This can be done either with pen and paper or with such online personal finance tools as Mint (www.mint.com) or Quicken (www.quicken.com).

An exhaustive review can bring surprises. For example, Koch says many of her clients are shocked to see how much they're spending on restaurant meals, coffee breaks and takeout food.

"Over time, those small sums really add up," she says.

Doing an inventory of spending is laborious because you must sift through both credit card and checking account statements. And for cash expenditures, you'll probably need to make estimates, a taxing exercise. But although the entire process can take the better part of a weekend, Koch says it's an essential element in your search for potential areas of savings.

-- Create a spending plan that lets you save for your home-buying goal.

Because cost-of-living increases continue to outpace income gains, it's tough to trim expenses. Still, Koch urges savers to examine their largest outlays, including regular spending on food.

"My clients know that restaurant meals are expensive. But grocery store food can also add up fast," says Koch, who recommends that clients buy fewer processed foods, do more home cooking, monitor food waste closely and consider taking bag lunches to work.

Commuting costs also put a big dent in many budgets. So Koch advises savers to challenge long-held assumptions about car ownership. For instance, she recommends they ask themselves if they could get by with public transportation, if only until their savings goal has been met.

"To meet your home-buying objective, you may need to cut out a car," she says.

Those willing to surrender ownership of a car might wish to join one of the car-sharing services now available in an increasing number of U.S. towns and cities. Such companies -- which include Zipcar, Enterprise CarShare and Car2Go -- allow members to reserve a vehicle from their smartphone. They're designed to serve those who need only occasional use of a vehicle, which is often sufficient for people who rely primarily on public transportation.

Koch also recommends that savers examine cellphone bills.

"Phone charges are one of the fastest-growing items in the budgets of many young people. And many people think they need the newest phone upgrade as soon as it comes out," Koch says.

For those who could use some guidance in this process, Koch recommends the latest edition of "The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook" by Judy Lawrence.

-- Enroll in an automatic savings plan.

Are you one of the millions of Americans who live paycheck to paycheck? If so, you might think it's impossible to get by if a chunk of money is taken out every time you get paid.

But financial planners say automatic withdrawals are the answer for many who aren't methodical savers. And surprisingly, they say those who have direct debits taken from their pay rarely miss the money. Meanwhile, their savings accounts grow quickly.

"The idea of an automatic savings plan is that the money rolls in without any proactive steps on your part. That's a huge advantage for anyone trying to save for a house," Koch says.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In last week's column, the website of real-estate author and blogger Michael Connerly was incorrect. It is www.usahomebuyerguide.com. We regret the error.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

In many parts of the country, rental cost increases are outpacing income gains. That's putting an unsustainable squeeze on renters, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (www.realtor.org).

As Yun says, rapidly rising rents make it tough for renters to save enough for a down payment on a property purchase. Yet, in moderately priced markets, those able to buy a first home often find that their mortgage payments are no higher than were their rental costs.

Michael Connerly, the author of "How to Win With Real Estate," and a blogger at wwww.usa.homebuyersguide.com, says that aside from very expensive cities like New York, a condo remains the least expensive point of entry into homeownership.

But he cautions that those seeking to sell a condo can face challenges, even if it's well-priced. That's especially true if the unit is located in a large building or complex where many properties of similar size and floor plans are available for sale.

Are you trying to liquidate a "look-alike" condo in order to move to a larger place? If so, Connerly says it's wise to make sure your listing agent differentiates your unit from the others based on its positive attributes.

"Your condo should be more appealing than others if it's on an upper floor with less noise or a nicer view. Also, highlight the distinction if it has a balcony or is a corner unit, which means it has two outside walls rather than one," he says.

Condo sellers who face stiff competition have to think strategically, as do their listing agents. Here are a few pointers:

-- Make sure you price with cash-tight buyers in mind.

Those seeking to sell a condo in an area where many new units have been built need to be especially careful not to set too high a price, or their property could sit unsold for a lengthy time, says Mark Nash, author of "1001 Tips for Buying & Selling a Home."

Those planning to sell in a complex where many condos are on the market should do a careful review of what other units -- known as "comparables" or "comps" -- have sold for during the last three to six months.

Suppose for example that you're the owner of a condo that overlooks a car dealership. If so, don't try to price as if your unit is worth as much as another one in the same complex that overlooks a beautiful garden with a fountain.

-- Raise awareness of your unit with local real estate professionals.

Because the U.S. real estate recovery is still uneven, some condo markets are much stronger than others, says Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker-owner and former president of the National Association of Realtors.

To increase showings, Helfant recommends you ask your listing agent to hold one or more "brokers' opens" at your place. These are open houses to which all real estate agents in the area are invited. As a magnet, such events often feature food, entertainment or both.

"Agents who've had the chance to preview a place and come away impressed are more likely to take their clients by to see it," Helfant says.

-- Add spark to your condo with upgrades.

Connerly says it's worth it to spend a few thousand dollars on pre-sale upgrades if you're competing with many other sellers with similar units.

"The biggest bang for your buck is always paint, which makes any place look sharp. But there are also some other fairly inexpensive steps that can be especially helpful in a competitive market," he says.

For example, many condo buyers are impressed with kitchen upgrades, including granite countertops, which have come down in price in recent years, as well as hardwood cabinets.

"Just replacing your cabinet fronts alone can make an old kitchen look stunning. But to make the room seem larger, avoid dark wood in favor of oak or ash," Connerly says.

-- Make your condo appealing to young buyers.

"If your condo is located in a moderately priced building in a popular area, it should appeal strongly to young buyers eager to shed their landlord," Nash says.

Besides the usual print and online advertising materials, Nash recommends that your listing agent develop community "resource lists" with your target audience in mind.

"For instance, young professionals new to your area could value a lengthy list of nearby restaurants, clubs, gyms, movie theaters and grocery stores, along with ratings and reviews," he says.

-- Don't stoop to offer tangible rewards.

During the real estate downturn, some condo sellers offered "tangible incentives" in hopes of beating other sellers in the same building. For instance, they'd offer to throw in a new iPad or large-screen TV to sweeten a deal.

But Connerly cautions that such offers can draw the wrong type of buyers.

"Tangible rewards make you look desperate and therefore usually attract low-ballers rather than serious bidders, which can really hurt you at the bottom line. So it's better to spend your money on upgrades," he says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

According to Dr. Andrew Cherlin, a Johns Hopkins University sociologist who specializes in marriage and family issues, Americans value marriage more highly than ever. They're just willing to wait until they have sufficient financial security to comfortably afford a property.

Obviously, there's more to making a good home-buying decision than a sufficient income stream. As Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of "Home Buying for Dummies" says, it's also important for couples to make sure they're committed to each other.

"Remember that buying a home is going to add financial stress to your relationship," he says.

Tyson says couples should also be sure that they both intend to remain in the same area for at least three to five years before deciding to buy. That usually means both have completed their graduate or professional schooling and intend to keep working in the same metro area for at least that long.

Still, Tyson says many newly married couples with enough resources to buy a home still need a great deal of discussion before making a final property decision.

Couples can have very divergent views on the best setting for a home, and whether it should be in a city, suburban or rural location.

Couples of all ages need to bridge their differences before heading out for a home-shopping tour. Otherwise serious disputes could develop later.

"Pick a time to share thoughts about your individual priorities and make an actual appointment," Tyson says.

Here are a few other pointers:

-- Make your first move a meeting with a mortgage lender.

These days, mortgage lenders typically conduct nearly all their business through phone calls and email, with an occasional fax thrown into the mix. Technically, you never need to meet your lender.

But Ronald Phipps, a former president of the National Association of Realtors, (www.realtor.org) recommends that even before you go home-shopping, you arrange a face-to-face meeting with a lender to discuss your financing plans and gain mortgage pre-approval.

"Though it's uncommon for people to see their lender personally, it's highly advisable," he says.

As Phipps says, buyers who meet face-to-face are more likely to get extra time and faster processing for their mortgage application, as well as insights into the changing mortgage market, with its rigid standards.

"If your parents last bought a house many years ago, they probably can't give you much guidance on financing," he says.

-- Don't rule out purchase of a place with outdated decor.

To get the most for their money, Tyson says money-tight homebuyers may wish to consider a category of properties a notch above a classic "fixer-upper." These are typically well-maintained properties with solid electrical and plumbing systems. But their owners, though practical, have neglected them cosmetically.

"For instance, maybe the owners hung onto their old outdated-looking kitchen appliances because they're still functional. And the same with out-of-date bathroom tile colors and fixtures," Tyson says.

He says young buyers willing to overlook a dated kitchen or bathrooms can sometimes get a good deal on a home they're willing to improve themselves at a later date. But unless you're extremely handy, he cautions against taking on a home that needs major infrastructure improvements.

He recommends a thorough inspection to determine whether a home has fundamental problems -- such as a crumbling foundation. These are far more costly to fix than an unappealing decor.

-- Screen for homeowners eager to sell.

Tom Early, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org) says that when it comes to real estate, time is money. Sellers who have already moved and whose property has already gone vacant may be especially willing to negotiate favorable terms for buyers.

"Usually, you don't have to do anything sneaky or underhanded to find out what motivates the sellers. That's because owners sometimes broadcast their desire for a quick sale with ads that read: "Seller Motivated" or a similar message," Early says.

If the ads don't reveal the sellers' degree of urgency, a few casual inquiries placed by your real estate agent to the listing agent for the property might do so.

"Real estate people are gregarious. Word gets around and soon your agent can find out why a house is on the market. Maybe the owners are building a custom-built house and will be moving there in just a couple of weeks," Early says.

He says a dedicated buyer's agent can be especially helpful to those making a first home purchase.

"A couple who is flexible and has all their financing lined up can sometimes get a bargain price on a dream nest where they can start a family and live together for many years," Early says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)