Somewhere around half of U.S. marriages now end in divorce, according to the American Psychological Association. Marriage experts say one of the most perilous times for couples occurs as they approach buying a home.

“Money is the No. 1 cause of conflict and divorce in our country, and buying a house is the biggest purchase most couples make in their lifetimes,” says Dr. Elizabeth Schmitz, a psychologist and co-author of “Building a Love That Lasts.”

“For many couples, there’s a middle ground between differing opinions on the right place to buy. Shut off your phones and really listen to what’s important to your partner,” she says.

Schmitz acknowledges that some house-hunting couples deadlock over differing priorities. To help break such a deadlock, she recommends they work with a real estate agent who can help assist them to discover options that might suit both partners.

Schmitz and her husband, a fellow marriage analyst and former university dean, have moved seven times during their 52 years together, and every move has required some level of negotiation.

“Over time you learn how to compromise effectively,” she says.

Here are a few pointers for home-buying couples.

-- First, define your spending limits.

Ashley Richardson, a real estate agent who’s sold homes since 1993, says many couples launch an elaborate property search before setting their spending limits. But she urges would-be buyers to start by talking to a reputable mortgage lender.

“Price has got to come first, because it dictates how much of your wish list is doable,” says Richardson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

Of course, there are many national lenders seeking to sell their services via the internet. But Richardson says it’s usually preferable for buyers to work with a local lender whom they can meet face-to-face.

Why is it easier for couples to reach consensus if they obtain mortgage pre-approval? Because, as Richardson says, those who know their spending limits are more realistic, which makes compromise easier.

“That way, neither husband nor wife gets their heart set on a home that’s beyond their reach, saving time and disagreements,” she says.

-- Select the right neighborhood as your second step.

Obviously, picking the right neighborhood is a personal choice no real estate agent can make for you. For that reason, Richardson suggests you evaluate several neighborhoods before asking an agent to zero in on listings in any area.

“You can save a lot of time by identifying your favorite neighborhood early and then finding an agent who truly specializes in that community,” Richardson says.

She recommends that couples discuss the neighborhood features most important to them. They need to decide, for example, whether it’s more important to live close to work or in an area with lots of pristine open space.

Though many buyers spend ample time comparing neighborhoods through internet searches, Richardson recommends they also spend some weekend hours driving through neighborhoods of interest and stopping by open houses.

-- Identify lesser priorities you’re willing to trade off.

Many couples in their 30s and 40s with young children are anxious to move up from a small starter home to a place with more bedrooms and bathrooms. They typically find it easy to agree on their space needs.

But beyond these basics, couples argue about other important property features. For example, is it more important to buy a place with a large lot or one with a two-car garage?

Because few couples can afford a home with every feature they want, Richardson encourages partners to give each other a written list of priorities. That way both parties will probably get more of what they want.

-- Consider the redo of a home that doesn’t quite meet all your wishes.

Susan Graves, a veteran real estate broker, recommends that couples who can’t now afford a place with all the features they both want look for one that could be updated to meet their top priorities.

To determine if the improvement you want would fit in your budget, Graves suggests that buyers call in a contractor for an estimate on cost. For example, they could obtain a bid to add a garage to a property that lacks one, or to install quartz countertops in a dated-looking kitchen.

“Buying a well-priced home that needs only a limited amount of work to ensure that both husband and wife are happy could be a reasonable plan,” she says.

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

For the more than 30 years that a doctor has lived in his architect-designed house, he’s relished the place -- making numerous upgrades. Among the improvements, he added a tastefully landscaped piazza, complete with fountains and a pond stocked with koi fish.

But now as he approaches age 70, upkeep on the house and grounds have become more of a burden than a pleasure for the doctor. The last straw came when his pond sprung a mysterious leak that cost many hours and hundreds of dollars to diagnose and fix. As a result, the doctor vows to give the house to one of his married sons.

What are the doctor’s housing aspirations now? Surprising even himself, he yearns for the simplicity of life in a small apartment.

Julie Jason, the author of “Retire Securely,” a newly published book, doesn’t know the doctor in this true story. But she’s not surprised that he’s opting for a downscaled lifestyle that offers greater freedom from maintenance demands.

“Many of my clients are going smaller,” says Jason, a certified financial planner who specializes in helping wealthy clients.

Of course, the transition from a large property to a smaller one can be difficult. She says it can be especially tough for affluent homeowners who face a major psychological adjustment to downsize.

To help ease the transition, she suggests that retirees intent on downsizing frame the future as positively as possible, focusing on the greater freedoms that come with low-maintenance living.

Here are a few pointers on housing for retirees:

-- Consider a carefully selected condo-apartment.

For those seeking a simpler life, one obvious choice involves apartment-style living, and an increasing number of retirees prefer owning rather than renting their units, says Tom Early, who twice served as president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

But he urges caution before committing to any condo.

“It’s crucial that the owners’ association has put money in an escrow account to keep up with such improvements as painting and parking-lot paving, along with the eventual replacement of the roof,” Early says.

Before investing in any condo, he recommends you examine the minutes of the condo association’s meetings for the last two years.

“The minutes will tip you off about repair problems and tell you if there are lawsuits pending against the firm managing the complex,” he says.

-- Look for a detached house on a single level.

To some retirees, life in any apartment would feel cramped and regimented.

“People who hate apartments but want simplicity should ponder downsizing to a smaller detached house on one level with four walls of its own,” says Mark Nash, a real estate analyst and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

“Given the demographics of an aging boomer generation, buying a one-level house is a great bet for appreciation,” Nash says.

Beyond their investment potential, one-level properties offer advantages when it comes to routine upkeep.

“It’s a whole lot easier to keep a single-level house clean, because you don’t need to drag your vacuum up and down stairs,” Nash says.

-- Search for a place owned by a perfectionist.

Are you planning to purchase a home where you’ll live for just three to five years? If so, buying a place owned by maintenance-minded people could let you coast on their upkeep for a few years. Their place will probably be in good repair, including all appliances.

Those who baby their homes are usually also meticulous about pruning their trees and manicuring their flowerbeds. Still, Early warns against thinking you could coast for several years on the prior owner’s conscientious yardwork.

“Well-kept grounds require near constant attention -- either by you or people you take the trouble to hire,” he says.

-- Include brand-new houses in your search.

Clearly, not all new developments are created equal. Some new homes will give you years of maintenance-free living while others could mean headaches from the outset.

“There’s a price for quality. So, you may have to pay more for solid construction,” Early says.

A dedicated real estate agent should be familiar with both new home and resale options in your area.

Early believes that builders who add custom features to their homes usually give buyers a better product than those who mass-produce houses cookie-cutter style.

How can you find a builder with a quality edge?

“It’s always smart to poll the people who already live in the new subdivision. Ask them if they’re satisfied with the builder’s work,” Early says.

Home inspectors are another good source of information.

“Really good inspectors know who’s building shoddy houses and who’s building solid ones,” Early says.

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

If you’re selling a starter home this spring, you’re likely in luck. Due to a worsening inventory situation for this segment of the market, you might even have rival bidders competing to buy your place.

But a new report on inventory levels for homes across America includes some cautionary notes for sellers of luxury homes, where the picture is very different. According to the report, the supply-demand ratio is gradually moving in favor of buyers for upper-end properties.

The report comes from Cheryl Young, a senior economist for Trulia, which tracks housing trends nationwide. It shows that within the last year, starter home inventory has dropped 14.2 percent while premium home inventory has increased nearly as much.

Also negatively affecting luxury home sellers this spring are the implications of gradually rising mortgage rates and the new federal tax law, which limits the deductibility of home loan interest payments.

Given the recent buoyancy of the overall housing market, Young acknowledges it can be embarrassing for the sellers of any home to have it languish on the market. To avoid that situation, she strongly advises all sellers -- and especially those seeking to market a high-end home -- to choose a knowledgeable listing agent who can recommend correct pricing from the outset.

Here are a few other pointers for luxury home sellers:

-- Consider hiring a professional home “stager.”

Staging is the art of transforming a property so potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. Properly done, staging accentuates a home’s attractive features and minimizes its drawbacks.

Many real estate agents are convinced that hiring a talented stager can increase the odds of selling a property promptly. Working under a full-service contract, most stagers will provide an array of services. They remove excess furniture and personal items and rearrange the remaining pieces. Often, they also supplement the owners’ furnishings with eye-catching accessories of their own.

Regrettably, the cost of hiring a professional stager can run $500 or more and exceed the amount many sellers can afford, says Michelle Minch, the owner of a staging company called Moving Mountains Design.

But Minch says cash-constrained sellers don’t necessarily need the full range of services available through a stager. For a much lower price -- perhaps around $100 to $200 -- they can obtain an abbreviated consultation and receive pointers they can execute themselves.

“Tell the stager you just want the 10 top tips for making your house look better. For just an hour or so of consultation time, a good stager can tell you about furniture arrangement, and also recommend mild, pleasing paint colors for your walls,” she says.

How can you find a competent stager who will work on an “a la carte” basis? Minch suggests you visit the website of the Real Estate Staging Association, realestatestagingassociation.com. Look for stagers in your area and be sure to review their websites for examples of their work before you contact them.

-- Consider holding a “home selling” fest with friends.

Sometimes the owners of a property that’s lingered on the market will pressure their listing agents to conduct several public open houses.

But Lisa Atkinson, a veteran real estate agent, says traditional open houses rarely lead to a sale. That’s because these events typically attract few qualified home-buying prospects and are more likely to draw curiosity-seekers. Most serious buyers see homes on an appointment basis -- during a tour led by their agent.

A better way to ignite renewed interest in your place is to throw a “home-selling party,” inviting your close friends and relatives, who would be motivated to promote the sale of your home.

-- Request that your listing agent “talk up” your place.

In all types of markets, the skills of seasoned listing agents are valuable. One key skill involves promoting your place to other real estate agents who have home-buying clients of their own.

“Strong agents will respond to your request to step up informal marketing of your place by spreading the word. They’ll make personal phone calls to other agents. They’ll also take fliers about your house to their professional meetings and hand them out,” Atkinson says.

Your listing agent may have done this kind of one-on-one marketing for your property when it was first listed. But if your house has been sitting unsold for longer than you’d like, it might be time to ask your agent to do another round of this informal promotion.

-- Take maximum advantage of springtime blooms.

It’s nice to have fresh-cut flowers on display throughout your home’s interior. But if average market times in your community are quite long, the cost of keeping fresh flowers in your home could mount up.

One less-expensive alternative -- that’s especially easy during the spring -- is to display flowering, potted plants indoors and to install such blooms in your outdoor gardens, particularly around the front of your house.

The color of bountiful, blooming plants is a great way to make any home more attractive, Minch says.

“When you put your house on the market, you’re entering into a beauty contest. Price is terribly important. But beyond price, prettier is always better,” she says.

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