Many homebuyers are extremely frustrated by the dearth of available houses on the market, and that’s putting a damper on overall sales. One reason for the lack of supply is that many owners are clinging to homes they’ve owned for years.

“In a world that’s constantly changing ... your home is your safe haven. It feels comfortable and reassuringly familiar,” says Ashley Richardson, a longtime real estate agent affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (crs.com).

But Richardson says there’s a glimmer of hope for those seeking to buy in a tight market. She says many aging baby boomers are now facing the need to liquidate, either due to financial problems or health issues or both.

She tells the true story of one such boomer -- a never-married woman in her early 70s who had to sell her small colonial property or face foreclosure.

“Letting go emotionally is terribly hard,” Richardson says.

As it worked out, the woman’s story had a positive ending. Though her house had fallen into disrepair, it was priced accordingly and sold to an investor in just one day. Within two weeks, she moved to a new retirement community suited to both her budget and health needs.

Donna Leanos, an agent who’s sold real estate for 28 years, recommends that those faced with an involuntary sale seek help from a firm that specializes in assisting with smooth transitions. Known as “move managers,” such companies offer downsizers a comprehensive package of services. They help cull through the sellers’ possessions and arrange for the sale or donation of valuables. In addition, they help handle the logistics of the move.

How can you find a move manager in your area? One way is through the website of the National Association of Senior Move Managers: nasmm.org.

Those who need less extensive help to downsize might wish to use the services of a professional organizer. A local organizer can be found through the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (napo.net).

Here are a few pointers who must make an involuntary move:

-- Prepare as early as possible for a downsizing move.

Donna Eichelberger, who heads a move management firm for seniors, says many of her clients wait until their early 80s to make plans for a move. At that point, a health crisis can force the need for a move on an urgent basis.

She says the most successful downsizers are those who anticipate the need to move well in advance of a possible health crisis.

“The happiest people are the ones who embrace change rather than resisting it,” according to Eichelberger.

-- Allow adequate time for the purging process.

Vicki Norris, a former real estate agent and professional organizer, says it can take up to 24 hours to declutter the average room. To avoid becoming sidetracked, she says many home sellers need allies.

“It’s good to have people there to keep your move in perspective and perhaps to lend some humor into the situation,” says Norris, author of “Restoring Order to Your Home.”

Are you unable to afford professional services for your move? If so, Norris suggests you request that friends come by to at least lend moral support.

-- Ask family members if they’d like some of your memorabilia.

Older downsizers often hang onto nostalgic items they believe their grown children might want “someday.” But Norris says many parents believe their offspring will want many more things than they do -- including their childhood story books and grade-school art. Norris suggests that downsizers ask grown children what items they value.

-- Develop a memory book with photos of your place.

When Norris’ baby-boom-age parents retired and put their family home up for sale, they did so voluntarily. Even so, they found it emotionally thorny to let go of a residence where they’d lived for 28 years.

Still, the process of downsizing was eased after their listing agent gave them a book of photos showing all their rooms and furnishings just as they looked before the home was staged for sale.

“That way, they were able to seal their memories --including how the dining room table looked when their whole extended family came over for Thanksgiving dinners,” Norris says.

-- Contribute excess belongings to a charity of your choice.

As they plow through their property room-by-room, most downsizers encounter many items that crowd their space and would make it harder to market their property. In addition, they could have many things their children no longer want.

Whenever possible, Norris encourages donations of serviceable items to a nonprofit institution that will put them to good use. For instance, you could donate unused musical instruments to a school serving low-income families.

“Contribute to an organization that shares your values. That gives you a lot more peace of mind about letting go,” she says.

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

The evidence is mounting: It’s increasingly tough for those in their 20s and 30s to climb onto the bottom rung of the homeownership ladder.

“It’s kind of a double-whammy for first-time homebuyers. Inventory of starter homes is very low and competition for homes is very high,” says Felipe Chacon, a housing economist for Trulia, which tracks markets throughout the country.

Indeed, Chacon’s research shows a severe “mismatch” between the demand for starter homes and available supply. A leading reason is that in recent years there’s been a dearth of entry-level home construction, especially in areas where millennials wish to live.

To address the affordability problem, one obvious strategy is to seek parental help. If your parents have the means, they could provide cash assistance for your down payment and closing costs. Also, assuming their income and credit is solid, they could co-sign for your mortgage.

Daren Blomquist, a senior vice president at Attom Data Solutions, a real estate data company, says that research shows that nearly a quarter of homebuyers now have “co-borrowers,” many of whom are parents.

Another approach is to compromise somewhat on your standards when selecting the right home to buy. Chacon says young purchasers can save as much as eight percent off the market value of a home if they’re willing to take one with some correctable defects. Indeed, he and his wife did well when they acquired a ranch-style place in Texas that needed a limited amount of work.

To outdo rival buyers, they were willing to address minor issues, such as faucet leaks, locks that needed replacement and clutter that needed clearing.

Chacon and his wife purchased the property with a 3.5 percent down Federal Housing Administration mortgage, which also made it more affordable. He encourages young purchasers to explore such a low-down-payment government-backed loan and says too few buyers are aware of this option.

Here are a few first-time buyers:

-- Restrict yourself to your financial “comfort zone.”

Merrill Ottwein, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, cautions buyers of all ages against taking any mortgage that feels uncomfortably large.

“It’s up to you to create a realistic budget and limit your loan amount,” Ottwein says.

“The good news is that today’s young buyers are mostly very conservative. During the Great Recession, they saw how easy it was to lose a home if you overspent,” he says.

-- Seek a property where you could house a roommate or two.

“For lots of young folks it’s a huge plus to have a roommate who pays rent and helps offset their mortgage expenses,” Ottwein says.

What kind of property is most attractive to renters?

Ottwein recommends you seek a home with a bedroom suite that includes a private bath so a roommate could live more autonomously. A separate, outside entrance to the suite would be ideal. Also, a place near a college campus could also be an especially good bet.

-- Look for an energy-efficient home.

After taking ownership, many first-time buyers are stunned at the size of their outlays for upkeep. They hadn’t expected to spend so much for everything from lawn fertilizer to plumbers’ bills. The scope of their energy costs also comes as an unpleasant surprise.

Obviously, many costs associated with homeownership, such as taxes and insurance, are unavoidable. But savvy home shoppers can more easily contain their energy costs by selecting an energy-efficient property that’s well insulated and has double-pane windows, says Sid Davis, a longtime real estate broker and author of “Your Eco-Friendly Home.”

He suggests that before agreeing to buy a particular property, you review at least six months’ worth of utility bills from the current owner. Also, make sure the home inspector you hire gives you a well-considered estimate of your utility costs going forward.

“The inspector should tell you about the quality of insulation in the property, and energy ratings for the windows. Double-pane windows can save you as much as 15 to 20 percent on your utility bills compared with single-pane windows,” Davis says.

-- Don’t forget to factor lifestyle into your home selection.

You needn’t live in the immediate vicinity of friends to stay close. But you could find life in a faraway suburb very lonely if the neighborhood where you move is a long drive from close friends.

“A great home purchase isn’t just about lots of square footage and lovely features. It’s also about finding the right location to support a lifestyle that’s fun and fulfilling,” Ottwein says.

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

The Great Recession is fading into memory. But many of the young adults who came of age during that austere period are still living in a spare bedroom in their family home. What happens when their parents wish to sell the place? Generational conflict.

“It’s a combustible situation when parents decide to downsize, but their kids don’t want to move,” says Tom Early, a veteran real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Zhenchao Qian, a sociology professor at Brown University, says that despite improvement in the overall economy, the number of young adults living with parents remains at a “relatively high level.” One factor is that millennials are marrying later than previous generations and are more likely to use their parents’ residence as a safe base before they settle permanently.

“Many children of baby boomers are stuck in a prolonged adolescence. They’re used to getting their way and many parents have been willing to float them indefinitely,” says Bruce Tulgan, author of “Not Everyone Gets a Trophy: How to Manage Generation Y.”

Tulgan says parents who decide to sell the old family house are often surprised to get a “world of guff” from their grown kids who want their childhood memories left untouched.

“No matter their age and level of independence, lots of kids insist that the family house be kept like a museum -- where they can return at any time and stay in their childhood bedroom,” Tulgan says.

Do you have a grown child living in a residence you plan to sell? If so, these few pointers could prove useful:

-- Solidify your moving plans before informing your offspring.

Kathleen Shaputis, author of “The Crowded Nest Syndrome,” says the parents of grown children should put their own housing preferences ahead of their kids’ wishes and not give them veto power over their choices.

“Make sure your plans are firm before breaking the news to your kids. If you tell them before you’re certain, they’ll smell fear and confusion and might try to take advantage of any cracks in your thinking,” she says.

On the other hand, Shaputis says it’s unwise to make a major real estate move without informing your grown children before the changes occur.

“If you spring your plans on the kids after they’ve happened, this could come as a rude shock that causes needless conflict within the family,” she says.

In what setting should you choose to tell your grown kids of your plans? Shaputis says it’s ideal to choose a restaurant or another public venue.

“Any outbursts that might occur are easier to handle in a public place,” she says.

-- Help your kids with the emotional elements of the move.

“Some kids are very tradition-oriented. For instance, they could be very upset that Thanksgiving dinner will no longer be held in the same place as it was for years,” Shaputis says.

Though you don’t want to forfeit your overall housing plans to shield your grown children from disappointment, she says you can help them make a smoother transition with reassurances that they’re welcome to visit no matter where you live.

-- Assist your children in finding another place to live.

Do you have grown children living with you who will need to move when your home is sold? If so, Shaputis says you can help soften this transition by helping them identify ways to live independently.

“Sit down with them and brainstorm about how they could make it on their own. Maybe they could use some help finding an apartment and a roommate to help share the rent. Or maybe they need suggestions for finding a second job that lets them become economically self-sufficient,” she says.

Of course, financial realities may require both parents and their grown children to make some temporary accommodations.

“Sometimes, the whole family simply has to pull together to make ends meet. This has been going on since the beginning of time,” she says.

-- Realize that good parenting is not always about yielding to the kids.

Alyson Schafer, a psychotherapist and author of several books on parenting, says there’s no reason parents should feel guilty when they assert their right to make their own housing choices, especially after their kids have finished their schooling.

“What’s important is that you keep on loving the kids and show them you do. That’s what they really want. And remember, you can love them from any type of home -- even a high-rise condo in the city,” Schafer says.

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