A couple in their early 30s have been diligently saving to buy their first home for more than 12 months. Both have steady jobs and have accepted overtime to help amass a down payment. But now, as they embark on their house hunt, they’re feeling alarmed.

Available properties in their price range are very few in number. Moreover, as soon as they spot a house to their liking, they face fierce competition from rival buyers willing to bid over the asking price. This situation has led to sharp disagreements as to whether they should push forward or postpone in hopes the market will cool down.

Economists who track real estate markets aren’t surprised by the couple’s reactions to the situation they’re now facing.

“First-time homebuyers face a perfect storm this spring. Affordable, move-in-ready starter homes have become harder to find amid rising home prices and mortgage rates,” says Cheryl Young, a senior economist at Trulia, a real estate data firm.

John Rygiol, a veteran real estate broker who works solely with buyers, says current market conditions are leading to many heated arguments among couples about how to proceed. But he insists that postponing a purchase would be a mistake for most people who are now renting.

“Home prices aren’t going to drop, and neither are mortgage rates,” says Rygiol, who’s affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

To meet the challenge of the highly competitive starter-home market, some couples are considering a “fixer-upper” that requires substantial work to meet their standards. But Young cautions that such a property could require more costly upgrades than many buyers anticipate.

Here are a few pointers for home-buying couples:

-- Let go of the notion that either spouse has all the right answers.

Real estate agents often observe battles fought between spouses trying to agree on home selection. And often, amid the bickering, they hear one partner assert that the other is mistaken in expressing his or her preferences.

“A lot of times, clients don’t realize how stubborn and self-righteous they can get about what they consider the best place to live,” says Mark Nash, a longtime broker and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

Nash urges couples planning a purchase to go through a methodical process of setting priorities before they venture into house hunting.

“As a first step, each partner should sit down alone to draft a list of their own wishes in a home. Only then should they get together to create a joint list -- one that reflects the factors most valued by each person,” Nash says.

But what if both spouses are unclear about what they’re seeking in a home? One method of gaining focus -- sometimes advocated by real estate agents -- is to “go negative.” List all the things you dislike about the place where you now live; then flip these to reveal what you want most.

-- Look to your real estate agent for help to iron out differences.

Some would-be purchasers -- especially those planning to buy in high-cost areas -- struggle to reach agreement on how best to allocate their scarce dollars. In such situations, each partner should focus not only on their priorities but also the trade-offs they could accept, says Merrill Ottwein, a broker who heads a realty firm specializing in relocation.

“(A) real estate agent can help them pick their better trade-off,” Ottwein says.

Of course, agents aren’t marriage counselors, and they can’t be expected to resolve irreconcilable differences between husband and wife. But they can help mediate conversations that help couples settle minor disputes.

“A good agent will ask penetrating questions, encouraging the buyers to reach their own conclusions,” Ottwein says.

-- Allow yourself extra home shopping time if your marriage is young.

Obviously, people who’ve been married for many years know a lot more about each other than do younger couples. Therefore, they’ll need to deliberate longer to ensure that both partners’ views are taken into account when a home is chosen.

“People who’ve just gotten remarried after many years of living alone should be extra wary about misjudging a partner. Your spouse may have developed some very strong predilections through the years,” Ottwein says.

You may need several long conversations -- or perhaps even a getaway weekend -- to reach agreement on the best housing choice for both of you.

“It’s vastly better to hash out your differences before picking a property than to make a choice your spouse despises, which could lead to many quarrels later,” Ottwein says.

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

In an average real estate market, people who must sell in a hurry due to a personal crisis may be compelled to accept a sacrificial price to unload quickly. But that’s not the case this year, at least not for those planning to sell an entry-level home.

A severe shortage of available properties in the starter home segment has created nearly ideal conditions for sellers in most areas, says Elizabeth Mendenhall, president of the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

“First-time buyers continue to make up an underperforming share of the market because there are simply not enough homes for sale in their price range,” says Mendenhall, the CEO of a Missouri realty firm.

Although current demand for homes is at an extremely high level, those who must sell in a hurry should still delay as long as possible to minimize stress, says Marcia Naomi Berger, a psychotherapist and author based in California.

“Moving is traumatic for everybody, so give yourself the maximum time possible,” says Berger, an expert in marriage and family issues.

Here are a few pointers for sellers in a hurry:

-- Locate an experienced listing agent to represent you.

“People often feel their lives are out of control when going through a personal crisis ... At times like that, a very competent and compassionate real estate agent can help enormously,” says Ashley Richardson, a seasoned agent.

She recommends you find someone with substantial experience selling properties in your immediate area.

“What you’re also looking for is an agent with a track record for recommending list prices that are neither too high nor too modest for current market conditions,” Richardson says.

Calling the managing broker of a local real estate office is one way to identify a sharp agent, though be sure to indicate you’re looking for one with substantial experience selling your type of housing in your price bracket.

“Asking a broker could be a good starting point. You might also wish to call references. But remember that agents won’t give you the names of people who didn’t like working with them,” Richardson says.

-- Review recent sales in your area prior to pricing your home.

Prior to accepting any pricing recommendation from an agent, all sellers, no matter how hurried, should do at least a nominal amount of research.

“What you should do is ask your agent to give you a list of nearby properties that have sold within the last year within your ZIP code -- along with the final amount they brought at closing. Then drive by these homes, noting how they compare with your own. This process should take no more than one hour,” Richardson says.

If your drive-by tour raises questions in your mind about the price suggested by your listing agent, request a justification.

“Final selling decisions, such as pricing, should always be reserved for the owners,” says Richardson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

-- Attempt to compress the timetable to prep your home for sale.

Typical homeowners spend more than a month or two preparing their property for market. They clean, cull through belongings, prune their greenery and paint wherever needed.

But if you’re selling your home during a crisis phase of your life, chances are you have no more than a couple of weeks to get the home in showing condition.

“What’s important is to have a selling plan that’s compressed yet still covers all the basics,” Richardson says.

One obvious way to cut back on your home prep time is to hire contractors for work you might normally do yourself.

“Not everyone is willing to pay others to do work they could do themselves, particularly if they’re going through a financial crunch. But if time is short and skilled people are readily available in your area, chances are the work will go much faster if you hire help,” Richardson says.

Moreover, as she points out, home sellers with properties that are sparkling clean and freshly painted typically recoup more at closing than they invested in paid services.

“What’s important to know is that time is money if you must move promptly and can’t afford your house sitting on the market,” says.

-- Create a contingency plan for your property’s sale.

Sometimes, even a home that’s in good condition and correctly priced will fail to sell quickly for reasons hard to determine.

To avert panic in this situation, Richardson suggests anyone attempting to sell in the midst of a life-changing situation should develop a “Plan B” for coping if the process takes longer than expected.

Maybe you’ll arrange for a trusted relative to take over responsibility for your home sale. Or perhaps you’ll want to buy time by putting your property up for rent for six months.

Arranging for a contingency plan helps keep you focused on the positives in your situation.

“No matter the strength of the market, having a default plan can help calm your nerves and let you sleep at night,” Richardson says.

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

Normally, house hunters view spring as an auspicious time to make a purchase. But this year, they’re less sunny than usual, due to rising home prices and higher mortgage rates. What’s more, there’s now a disconnect between the outlook of buyers and sellers.

While 76 percent of homeowners think now is a good time to buy, just 55 percent of renters concur, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org). He says house hunters are “dispirited by the stiff competition for the short number of listings they can afford.”

Sellers can brighten their own odds of a successful sale by pricing accurately and presenting their property in an appealing way -- especially by clearing out excessive furniture and other possessions.

“There’s a strong visual component to a clutter-free home,” says Tisha Morris, a life coach who helps owners better stage their properties.

Through her work, Morris relies on the principles of “feng shui,” the ancient Chinese belief that how you build your house and arrange your possessions affects your health and happiness. Among other principles, it calls for simplicity in living.

But Morris, author of “Clutter Intervention: How Your Stuff Is Keeping You Stuck,” says it can be tough for sellers to sift through years of accumulations in advance of a sale, especially if they have a great deal of memorabilia.

Though there’s no simple solution to the clutter problem facing many sellers, Morris advises clients to begin by sorting through the items that have the weakest emotional ties. For instance, you might clear through kitchen utensils prior to tackling your children’s storybooks.

But before moving, there’s usually no reason to rid yourself of all your most valued possessions.

“Don’t think you have to become a fire-and-brimstone de-clutterer. If necessary, rent a temporary storage unit to keep your collectibles while your house is on the market,” Morris says.

Here are a few other pointers for sellers:

-- First, get a sense of the big picture.

Homeowners who do a thorough inventory of their clutter problem before attempting to solve it tend to be more efficient, says Mark Nash, a real estate analyst and author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

“First get your arms around the issue,” he says.

He suggests you ask your listing agent to come over to offer guidance on the belongings that should be banished before your house is shown to visitors.

Prior to downsizing a few years ago, Nash did such an inventory. Among his surplus items: flower vases; gift boxes; back copies of Architectural Digest; old bed linens; a lifetime supply of coffee filters; shoes purchased on impulse; half-used gallons of paint; and surplus telephones. His kitchen was also crammed with extra things -- from odd coffee mugs to flan cups he hasn’t used since the 1980s.

-- Use an illustration of your new space.

As another beginning step, Nash recommends you plot the space in your new property before deciding on the volume of items you can move. This assumes, of course, that you’ve already selected your next habitat.

It’s not only downsizers who can benefit from an illustration showing their new space, Nash says. Anyone planning a move should become more focused once they know what will and won’t fit in their next home.

-- Sort systematically.

When preparing for a move, Nash advocates that you sort like items together.

“Collect all those pesky things you continue to buy because you can’t find the first, second or third one you bought or because at the store you can’t remember if you have any. After you discover the rampant duplication, it’s easy to edit,” he says.

Once you have the items in any given room categorized, use what Nash calls the “three-box system” to plough through them quickly. One box should be labeled “keep,” a second “give away or sell” and a third “I don’t know.”

To increase your momentum, immediately make arrangements to have your “give away or sell” items carted off. This allows you more room to cull through the possessions from the “I don’t know” box that will require more scrutiny.

“It’s the decision-making element of decluttering that gets people paralyzed. But making decisions is easier if you have fewer things to look at,” Nash says.

-- Free yourself of old clothes and technology.

When picking through piles of clothing, one rule of thumb is “If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it,” says Nash, who also urges sellers to liberate themselves of many old gadgets.

“Obsolete technology is worth even less than people imagine. You probably can’t sell that old computer or printer. The sooner you donate or recycle them, the better off you’ll be. ‘Out of sight and out of mind’ is a great mantra when you’re moving,” he says.

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