Many first-time homeowners now feel trapped in the original property they bought several years ago. They’d love to upgrade to a larger place with more amenities. But as home prices continue to rise and with inventories still tight, they fear getting priced out of the market.

“Without enough listings on the market, affordability is decreasing, and buyers are increasingly saying that finding the right home is their top struggle,” says Jessica Lautz, who directs survey research for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

As Lautz notes, home prices have risen year-over-year for 67 straight months, and multiple offers are still a “common occurrence.” This has led to a variety of reactions from prospective buyers.

“Some folks are wary and refuse to wait to buy that better home. But others believe waiting for prices to settle down is their best avenue. Consequently, there’s lots of friction in households that are divided about their next steps,” says Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies.”

Here are a few pointers for potential trade-up purchasers:

-- Review your reasons for planning to move.

Anxiety can prevent people from moving ahead, even when it’s against their interest. But those convinced that now is a good time to buy a bigger home shouldn’t let unwarranted fears constrain them, says Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

“Assuming you’ve found your dream home and are itching to move forward, don’t let baseless fears block you,” Davis says.

Davis says one way to put your fears about real estate in perspective is to re-examine your original reasons for trading up. Has your growing family outgrown its small space, meaning that your kids must share bedrooms? Are your plans for a home-based business on hold?

“Remember that waiting to acquire that larger house means that your intentions are delayed, which would postpone improvement to your quality of life. Anyway, there’s no guarantee you’d get a better deal a year or two from now,” Davis says.

-- Research your local real estate market.

In many areas, inventories of unsold homes are still very tight or shrinking, making multiple bids commonplace. But in other neighborhoods, the inventory balance is gradually getting better for those seeking to move up. And in still other areas, the picture is mixed. It all depends on your target market.

Suppose, for instance, that you’re selling a property in a starter-home community in great demand by millennials. Meanwhile, you’re intending to buy in a luxury-home neighborhood where there’s an ample supply of properties and buyers don’t outnumber sellers. In that case, you could do well on your dual transactions.

“Entry-level buyers are still having a crazy time trying to burst into ownership,” Davis says.

If you live in an area with many available housing options, you can afford to take somewhat more time to make your selection and seal a deal. But Davis cautions against waiting indefinitely to buy in any area that remains red hot.

“Assuming this is really the right time for you to buy and your numbers work, don’t let past disappointments with real estate --like losing out in a multiple bidding situation -- haunt you,” he says.

-- Find an experienced mortgage lender to help you crunch numbers.

Unsure whether you want to go forward with a trade-up move? Worried that the numbers or your credit history could scotch your chances for better housing?

If so, Davis recommends you fact-check your concerns by visiting the office of a mortgage lender who will analyze your personal situation and determine whether you’d be eligible to buy that bigger house you have in mind.

Even if you’re confident you can qualify for a mortgage on a bigger home, it’s good to gain pre-approval to enhance your chances of acquiring your dream house.

As always, lenders want certainty that any mortgage they originate will be solid. This means you’ll need to be prepared to answer the lender’s request for documents.

“It’s true that lenders are a little less stringent than they were in the past. But you still need to have all your paperwork in order,” Davis says.

As proof of income, many mortgage lenders currently insist on much more documentation than the customary pay stubs and W-2s. They may also require federal tax returns. Also, most lenders now want proof that the funds you’ve amassed for your down payment have been in your savings or checking accounts for some time and weren’t just borrowed last week from a family member.

“For almost everyone, trading up to fancier quarters means proving you have the wherewithal to handle a heftier mortgage,” Davis says.

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

Just days after retiring, a couple in their mid-60s sold the 1,200-square-foot Cape Cod where they’d raised their daughter. But rather than step down to a condo, they shocked friends by upsizing to a 1,700-square-foot house. Even that felt cramped, so they sold again to buy a 2,100-square-foot Tudor with soaring ceilings, a huge country kitchen and a triple garage.

“No matter their age, some people just hate the idea of living in a condo. In retirement, these people want to stretch out, take up hobbies like gardening and do the gourmet cooking they lacked time for while working,” says Ashley Richardson, the real estate agent who represented the couple.

As this true story illustrates, some retirees have both the desire and resources to scale up to a more expensive property.

The retirees with whom she worked -- who chose their current house near their grown daughter’s place -- are delighted they now have enough space in their Tudor to host regular Sunday evening dinners for their extended family, which now includes a great-granddaughter.

“Soon, they plan to start babysitting the newest addition to their family,” Richardson says.

Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home,” says many seniors who decide to upsize consider themselves “professional grandparents.” Many also relish more time to pursue hobbies, including do-it-yourself home improvement.

Here are a few pointers for retirees who plan to upsize:

-- Buy the sort of place that appeals to your family.

If the vision of a family mecca appeals to you, Davis says you’ll want a place that’s convenient for as many family members as possible.

“Take stock of your family and their future work plans,” he says.

If your children's work situations are highly mobile or unstable, you may want to delay a move until they settle down more permanently, Davis says.

“You can’t chase your adult children all around America and the world. Better to pick a spot that’s easily accessible for them to travel to you,” Davis says.

-- Choose a setting that will attract family visits.

Perhaps you and your spouse would like to move to an age-restricted community. Yet you’d also like to see your kids and grandkids as frequently as possible. If so, you could well think twice about this plan.

“Truth is, the children aren’t going to find a whole lot of fun things to do in a retirement community. Rather than moving in with other seniors, pick a multi-generational area with more recreational attractions for the kids,” Davis says.

He suggests you consider buying a house near a neighborhood swimming pool, in an area where lots of young families live. You might also look for an area well suited to fishing, horseback riding or hiking.

“Quiz the kids on the kinds of activities they really enjoy. Also, don’t forget to ask the teenagers what they think,” he says.

-- Pick a property with the right features for overnight family visits.

Do you intend to upsize to a location that will draw family members for extended stays? If so, you’ll want the right home features to accommodate everyone who comes by.

“Look for a house with at least three bedrooms and, even more important, as many bathrooms as possible. The kids can always double up in the bedrooms. But if you have only one bathroom, you’re bound to have bottlenecks,” Davis says.

Also, he recommends that those seeking to create a family hub look for large common areas in their upsized property.

“People love to hang out in a big kitchen with places to sit and talk. That’s why upsizers often go for a large eat-in kitchen connected to an even larger ‘great room.’ This is often great for retirees who love family gatherings,” Davis says.

-- Factor in the realistic need for good airport access.

Do you yearn to retire to a faraway place with a better climate and yet still wish to see extended family as often as possible? If so, Davis says you’d be well advised to upsize to an area with good transportation access.

“Move to some remote region and it will be a lot more costly and inconvenient for your kids and grandkids to visit. Instead, look for an area served by an excellent airport. Search for an airport that serves as a hub for at least one airline with lots of service and decent fares,” he says.

Granted, you won’t want to live so close to an airport that you’ll be tormented by the noise of planes flying overhead. But you’ll want to be close enough to the airport that family visits aren’t too taxing.

“If you’re counting on air travel for family get-togethers, try to live within a 90-minute drive from a good airport,” Davis says.

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

Homebuyers who grew up with a sizable backyard typically envision their kids also frolicking in open space. But there are increasing barriers to this idealized vision, says Felipe Chacon, an economist for Trulia, which tracks real estate markets throughout the country.

“America’s homes are getting bigger. But more space comes at a price: the backyard,” say Chacon, who recently completed a comprehensive report on the topic.

He says the trend toward homes with bigger footprints is continuing to accelerate.

“Homes built since 2015 occupy 25 percent of the land on which they sit, while homes built in 1975 occupy just 13.9 percent,” Chacon says.

Of course, some affluent buyers can afford to live in a close-in community with both a big house and a big yard. To accomplish this goal, well-to-do purchasers in some white-hot neighborhoods are buying a modest house on a large lot and then tearing down the building to make room for a larger, custom-built house.

“The trend toward tear-downs is happening in popular areas all over the country,” Chacon says.

Here are a few suggestions for buyers with young children:

-- Ponder the question of how much yard space you truly need.

Yard-wise, what may have worked for you growing up isn’t necessarily best for your kids, says Eric Tyson, a consumer advocate and co-author of “Home Buying For Dummies.”

“Children are much more programmed than they used to be. Many are involved in lots of scheduled activities -- from piano lessons to sports teams. There’s less spontaneous play,” he says.

Rather than focusing heavily on yard size, Tyson suggests you consider the outdoor features of a neighborhood you’re considering, including parkland and bike paths.

As Tyson says, neighborhoods where yards are smaller are often more family-friendly.

“Kids can be closer to their neighborhood friends. They don’t have to be driven around to see their playmates,” he says.

-- Realize you can often get more floor space in a two-story home.

Many home shoppers are looking for a single-level ranch-style house. Those who’ve hit middle-age or beyond are especially likely to prefer a one-story house, which doesn’t require them to scale stairs.

But people with school-age children should consider the advantages of living on two levels, Tyson says. That’s because it’s easier to contain the noise and mess of growing children if their bedrooms are separated from the common living space of the family.

With a two-story house, parents can entertain guests on the first floor while their kids are playing or sleeping upstairs. Also, young families can typically get more space for the money in a two-story house.

-- Find a floor plan that functions well for your family.

Tyson says it’s more important for families with young children to have a floor plan that encourages togetherness than a large home.

“You probably won’t use a formal dining room, except on Thanksgiving. You’ll find more use for an inviting, good-sized family room,” he says.

Large, comfortable common rooms help draw children out of their bedrooms.

“You don’t want your young kids holed up in their rooms, spending too much time playing computer games,” Tyson says.

-- Seek to buy as many bedrooms as you can afford.

Brand-new houses with lots of square footage typically feature spacious master bedroom suites. Secondary bedrooms, designed for children or guests, are also very large, often with their own walk-in closets or even private bathrooms.

But Tyson insists it’s more important for families to have an adequate number of bedrooms than to have large bedrooms or a sumptuous master suite.

“Families with enough bedrooms can give siblings with different school schedules their own rooms. That’s an ideal way to help ensure that all the kids get enough sleep,” he says.

-- Don’t choose a neighborhood based on school test scores alone.

Though it’s now easy to compare schools on the basis of standardized test scores, there are many other factors to consider as well, says William Bainbridge, who founded the SchoolMatch Institute, a research organization focused on comparative school quality.

When matching up neighborhoods, Bainbridge urges parents to take the time to visit schools and pose questions to teachers and administrators. By doing so, they’ll get a feel for the culture of each school and whether its employees support and encourage the students who attend.

“You wouldn’t want your kids taught in a prisonlike environment -- even if the test scores at that school are excellent,” he says.

Bainbridge also urges parents to look into public education alternatives -- such as charter schools.

“School choice means more people can obtain a quality education for their kids without moving to the highest-income areas,” he says.

-- Make sure the adults in the family make the final housing decisions.

Not infrequently, school-age children will mount a protest against any housing move their parents plan because, as Tyson says, “children like constancy.”

To appease unhappy offspring, some parents let their kids cajole them into the wrong property. But Tyson says children usually adapt quickly to a move and it’s unwise to let their feelings dominate your plans.

“Buying a house is a massive financial decision. Only the parents can plot the most prudent choice,” he says.

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