After the financial crisis, homes were on the market at a deep discount, and potential buyers were scared property values would drop further. Now the situation has flipped, and starter home buyers fret that escalating prices mean they’ll never obtain a home.

“Housing inventories are still tight as a drum in the starter-home segment,” says Sid Davis, a veteran real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

Will 2018 prove a more favorable time for first-timers? Will inventories swell? Will mortgage rates ascend from their near-historic lows? As Davis underscores, no economist can predict the future with certainty. That’s why he and many other real estate specialists urge would-be buyers not to postpone their quest for homeownership.

Svenja Gudell, chief economist for Zillow, which tracks real estate markets throughout the country, says saving for a down payment is a moving target for novice buyers in many communities.

“Sky-high rents and rising home prices are putting first-time buyers in a bit of a catch-22,” Gudell says.

In many metro areas, it now costs nearly as much to rent an apartment as to buy a reasonably sized condo, townhouse or detached property. That’s increased incentives for homeownership, despite the intense competition over scarce listings.

Real estate specialists say a well-planned approach to homeownership helps calm the anxieties of many novices. Here are a few common buyer fears and how to surmount them:

-- Fear of exposing your credit history to a mortgage lender.

Davis says many would-be homeowners worry how their credit histories will be viewed by mortgage lenders. But he says most such anxieties are usually baseless, even during the present period, when lending standards remain stringent.

Mortgage pre-approval -- which lets buyers assess their borrowing capability before they head out to shop for a property -- is now easily obtained over the phone. Even so, Davis says some first-timers prefer to go to the lender’s office for pre-approval.

Also, to ensure they’re being quoted a competitive rate for their mortgage, he encourages all buyers to shop lenders before submitting a formal loan application.

“One superb way to find a good mortgage is to go to a small community bank or a credit union. They might give you a better deal than a large bank,” Davis says.

-- Worry that your family will judge your home choice harshly.

On financial matters, many young first-time homebuyers still look to parents for guidance. But sometimes, the involvement of elders can backfire.

“It’s not unusual for the intervention of parents to blow up a deal for their kids,” Davis says.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with seeking help from your parents. But he says it’s wise to involve them early on -- not after you’ve picked out the property and are about to seal the purchase.

“(Parents) tend to highlight the shortcomings of a property the kids like. And this can scotch a deal,” Davis says.

If you’re afraid to go forward without your parents’ help, he suggests you bring them along on your initial house-hunting trips. That way they can compare various alternatives and will likely give you more objective advice.

But Davis cautions young buyers against giving parents a veto over their final property selection, even if they’re helping fund the down payment.

“One approach is to involve parents in your early home shopping trips but then gracefully preclude them from the final decision making-process,” he says.

-- Fear of making a huge error.

Davis says many wannabe homebuyers become risk averse -- worrying they’ll select the wrong property. And such fears are understandable in the aftermath of the housing crisis.

“New buyers often feel they’re walking through a swamp of unknowns. But a lot of their anxieties are needless,” Davis says.

He says it’s not uncommon for young buyers seeking emotional safety to keep researching the market rather than make a decision. But in areas where sellers have the upper hand, buyers can forfeit the chance to buy a home they love simply by obsessing too long over the details.

Davis says the best remedy for home-selection anxiety is solid information. Work with an agent who can accurately advise on the true market value of any property you’re considering, thereby reducing your chances of overpaying.

“It’s a good thing for young buyers to get a lot of hand-holding from a reputable agent, ideally one who enjoys helping first-timers,” Davis says.

-- Fear of lacking enough funds to reach the finish line.

Of course, it can be costly to make a housing change at any stage of your life. But Davis says many longtime renters overestimate how much cash they need to become owners.

Granted, low-down-payment conventional mortgages remain harder to obtain than they were before the last recession. But buyers can still get into a first property for little or no down through programs offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (va.gov) or the Federal Housing Administration (hud.gov). Also, many state and local governments continue to provide first-time buyer assistance programs.

“Finding a really sharp Sherpa from the mortgage field can help you climb into homeownership,” Davis says.

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

Across America, first marriages are on the decline. But oddly, remarriages are increasing, according to the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank. More than 60 percent of previously married men tie the knot again -- and more than half of women.

A second marriage often comes with an extra abode, raising the tricky question of where the couple should live. Should they reside in her place or his? Or should they sell both and buy a third, neutral space in another community where neither has roots?

“The question of domicile is extremely sensitive and must be handled carefully,” says Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Realtors.

Take the true story of a lawyer married to an association executive. At the time of their divorces, both had been living modest suburban lives. After they wed, they had many heated discussions on where to live jointly. Ultimately, they sold both houses and moved to a downtown condo with lots of contemporary features and luxury amenities.

“Sometimes it takes lots of arguing for a couple to reach consensus. But if you end up buying a house together, you’re likely to enjoy an exciting new beginning for your relationship,” Helfant says.

On the other hand, the best choice for a couple could be to pick the better located of the two properties.

“Compromise isn’t a dirty word when it comes to marital housing choices,” Helfant says.

There’s no one right answer for people who acquire a second home through marriage, says Jo Snyder-Ritter, a real estate broker since 1977. Nor is there one right answer for those who inherit a place and must decide whether to move to that property, rent it out or sell it.

For instance, suppose you and your siblings have inherited the family home where you were raised. If none of you wish to live there, you could decide to sell the property and split the proceeds in accord with your parents’ wishes. But if one of you has the desire and means to buy the others out, that could be the better option.

“However you acquire an extra home, you must decide what’s best for you,” says Snyder-Ritter, who’s affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists.

She tells the true story of one of her clients, an engineer and an only child who inherited his mother’s ranch-style property. He and his wife, the parents of two young children, decided to move to his mother’s home because it was larger and better located than the place where they’d been living.

“Changing houses let them step up to a prestige neighborhood with excellent schools for their kids. So, in this case, selling their old house and moving to the mom’s place was the right choice,” Snyder-Ritter says.

Here are a few pointers:

-- Ponder your retirement plans before locking in a housing decision.

James J. Casey, a certified financial planner, recommends that those who acquire an extra house through marriage or inheritance consider their options in light of a holistic financial plan, including their need for retirement savings.

If the extra home you acquire is much larger than where you live now, he urges you to factor in higher utility costs before deciding to upsize.

Casey also discourages newly married couples from hanging onto an extra property for an extended period.

“Get down to one residence as soon as possible,” he says.

Would you like to work with a financial planner to formulate your housing plan? If so, Casey suggests you ask friends or relatives for names or contact a trusted accountant or attorney for referrals.

“People in these professions are very careful who they recommend,” Casey says.

-- Ask for advice from experienced real estate pros.

Once you’ve set your total housing budget -- factoring in the need for savings -- Casey says you should seek information on the market values of the properties you own, looking to real estate agents for counsel.

He recommends you meet with at least two to three agents, asking them about recent neighborhood sales and how much you could reasonably expect to make if you sell or rent your extra property.

As Casey says, a reputable agent shouldn’t press you to liquidate a house.

“When you meet with the agents, you’ll be able to tell who’s on top of their game and who’s just trying to push for a sale. You can discount the advice of anyone just pushing for a sale,” he says.

-- Don’t limit yourself to a single neighborhood.

Would a second marriage give you the option of moving to an entirely different area? If so, don’t automatically rule that out. Changing lifestyles can be a positive experience for those open to the experience.

“Many times, moving to a new area puts a positive spin on a couple’s life,” Helfant says.

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

A young lawyer and his wife were living in the two-bedroom condo they bought in a downtown area right after their wedding. Now the proud parents of a baby girl, they plan to keep the condo at least until their daughter enters kindergarten.

Urban condo ownership works well for the couple in several ways. Living downtown lets the lawyer walk to work -- thereby sparing him a traffic-ridden commute from the suburbs. Weeknights, he can keep a late appointment with clients and still get home for dinner. Weekends, the couple can walk to dinner or a movie with friends who also live in the city.

An increasing preference for city living is one reason downtown ownership rates are inching higher in some popular metro areas.

“In some metros, you can now own a city condo as cheaply as renting, and maybe even more so,” says Tom Early, a former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

As Early says, construction of new condo buildings has outpaced demand in some city centers, keeping prices in check. But he cautions there are many potential pitfalls to the selection of an ideal city condo.

In particular, avoid any building with high condo fees for amenities you’ll rarely use.

“For example, who would want to pay for the upkeep on a big indoor pool if you don’t even like to swim,” Early says.

Here are a few pointers on making the right city condo choice:

-- Pick a downtown neighborhood where you feel at ease.

Suppose you work for a bank or an insurance company and are considering a condo in the financial district. If so, that might only be a good bet if you’re moving to a part of the city with at least as many residential as commercial buildings, says Fred Meyer, a veteran real estate broker and appraiser.

“A neighborhood that’s mostly office buildings can seem like a cold, uncomfortable place once those buildings clear out at night,” Meyer says.

He urges you to visit a neighborhood you’re considering at various daytime, evening and weekend hours and to trust your instincts on whether it feels right to you.

“It’s a good idea to walk the streets and stop at nearby shops and eateries. Then ask yourself how you like the area,” Meyer says.

-- Compare buildings in the area of your choice.

Eileen Brennan, a real estate broker affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (crs.com), says condo buildings vary widely in terms of their internal culture.

“A new building could be a good choice, but so could an older building that’s well-maintained. Either way, you’re usually better off living in a purely residential building rather than one that also has offices and retail shops,” she says.

How can you tell if the building you like has a friendly atmosphere? Brennan suggests you talk to residents you meet in the hallways or chat with building staff, like a doorman or concierge working at the front desk.

-- Show extra sensitivity to potential noise problems.

If you’ve lived most of your life in a house, you may be unaware of how troublesome noise can be in a condo building. A building with poor soundproofing can hamper your quality of life.

“Imagine living next door to a guy who pounds his fists against your wall when he thinks you’ve got the TV on too loud,” Early says.

In the design and construction of new condo buildings, extra attention is often given to soundproofing. However, a condo in an older building could be good in this respect.

“Units in old buildings with massive walls can be surprisingly quiet,” Early says.

-- Check out key documents to learn more about a condo building.

Condo owners live in close quarters and must adhere to homeowner association rules. That’s why Early encourages potential buyers to obtain a copy of these rules before purchasing a unit.

“Ask yourself, for example, if you’d be happy in a place where you can’t have a dog or hang a towel on the balcony,” Early says.

Before you bid on any unit, he says you should ask your real estate agent for a copy of the homeowner’s association rule book. Also, ask to see the association’s financial statements to ensure that the building has sufficient reserves to meet its repair bills without imposing a “special assessment” on residents.

-- Track local market trends before submitting a bid.

As Meyer says, you’ll want to do plenty of homework to determine the current market value of any condo before making a contract offer.

To do this, ask your agent to find data on sales of comparable units that have closed within the last six months or longer, Meyer says.

“Find sales in the same building for units roughly like the one you want. This should help keep you from overpaying,” he says.

-- Don’t skip the professional inspection.

Some buyers believe a professional inspection isn’t necessary for those buying a condo. But Early says all condo buyers should hire a skilled inspector prior to finalizing a purchase.

Beside your apartment, “he should also check out the building as a whole -- including its plumbing, electrical and fire suppression systems. Otherwise you could be in for some nasty surprises after moving in,” he says.

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