For many Americans, this is a puzzling time for the economy. On the one hand, unemployment is low and people are shopping their hearts out. On the other, the stock market is volatile and even economists are unsure where the country is headed.

Such uncertainty is especially worrisome for those moving to take a new job during the first quarter of 2019. Should they buy a property in the new area or wait until the dust settles for the economy and the housing market? That’s a key question.

Merrill Ottwein, a veteran real estate broker specializing in relocation, offers general pointers for buyers unsure of the market.

“Buying a home in a hurry could be a terrific decision if it gets you a dream place and prevents you from locking yourself into an expensive long-term lease. But it could be a lousy choice if you aren’t careful what you buy,” says Ottwein, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

One factor pushing some job-changers into the hasty purchase is the prospect of rising mortgage rates in coming months, according to Paul Lueken, the CEO of a mortgage lending firm based in Chicago.

“Look for the housing sector to have a tougher year in 2019, unless 30-year fixed mortgage rates can fall back to the low fours,” Lueken says.

But in most neighborhoods, home valuations should remain relatively stable in the near future, regardless of a possible slump in the overall economy, says Mark Boud, the chief economist for Metrostudy, a firm that provides market intelligence to the homebuilding industry.

Boud says that even if there is a recession in coming months, home values won’t drop the way they did during the downturn a decade ago. That’s because many areas remain short on housing inventory, particularly in the starter-home segment.

Here are a few pointers for income-limited homebuyers in a hurry:

-- Challenge the idea of accepting a long commute.

It’s no secret that housing is still a major expense for those on tight budgets, especially first-time buyers with moderate incomes. Because of that, some buyers make tough trade-offs they later come to regret. Ottwein says it’s not unusual for some purchasers to accept a punishing commute to a distant community in order to buy a large house.

How long a commute is too long? That depends on the buyers involved and the type of commute. For example, driving in heavy stop-and-start traffic can become far more tiring than one on a free-flowing highway.

“I would worry about any commute that’s over 50 minutes each way. But in some cases, this could be tolerable to get what you want. For example, if you work in the city but love horses, you might be willing to make a long daily commute to get the rural acreage you need for that lifestyle,” Ottwein says.

-- Exercise caution before buying a “fixer-upper.”

Ottwein urges any homebuyer considering a property that needs rehab work to get reliable estimates on the cost of restoring the place. To obtain a sense of potential repair costs, your home inspector can help with estimates, and your real estate agent should be willing to help you arrange with contractors for bids.

Are you convinced you could handle the renovation work yourself?

If so, Ottwein recommends you do a reality check by canvassing friends who know you well. Ask them if they think this big do-it-yourself project would be a good option for you, both in terms of your skill level and available free time.

“Your friends can help you gain perspective on the possible pitfalls,” he says.

-- Choose options early when buying in a new subdivision.

If you’re planning to purchase a brand-new house, you’re likely to be faced with many trade-offs before your contract is written.

“For one package price, some builders give lump-sum allowances for anything ranging from lighting fixtures to appliances to landscaping to kitchen cabinets. Anything not included in that package will cost you extra money,” Ottwein says.

These choices should be made before the sales contract is written, but not under pressure from a hurried homebuilder or salesperson.

Those who are indecisive at the outset may find they have to pay a premium price for options they later decide they want.

“Once your contract is signed, you have little leverage left in negotiating with the builder," Ottwein says.

New-home buyers on a tight budget may wish to defer those items that can be installed later with relative ease, such as landscaping upgrades or window treatments.

“Lock in early those choices that are part of the infrastructure. The other options can wait until you have the funds to put them in yourself,” Ottwein says.

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

Government leaders and academics all over America are fretting about an emerging social problem: loneliness.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska wrote a book about the issue. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University, links it to rising medical problems. And Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former U.S. surgeon general, declared it “a public health epidemic.”

Meanwhile, real estate agents report that an increasing number of homebuyers wish to move to an area where neighbors engage with each other in friendly ways. Families with children are especially eager to reside in a community where kids have nearby playmates and families share in neighborhood-wide events.

“For many purchasers, a friendly neighborhood is more important than a house with lots of square footage,” says Tom Early, a veteran real estate broker who specializes in helping buyers.

But he acknowledges it can be tricky to discern whether an area will prove sociable.

“Sometimes, signs of neighborhood friendliness are subtle. Home shoppers have to dig below the surface for clues to sociability, and that means asking lots of questions,” says Early, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Here are a few pointers for homebuyers:

-- Search for a community with strong ties to neighborhood schools.

A strong school can help draw people together, tightening bonds among residents of all ages, says William Bainbridge, president of the SchoolMatch Institute, (schoolmatch.com), which helps clients assess school quality.

Must you move to an affluent area to find a school with both high-quality facilities and a dedicated teaching force? Not necessarily, according to Bainbridge, who says parental involvement is a key factor in school quality and one that can be present in any type of community.

How does a strong neighborhood school help bind residents together?

“Children are the conduit for lots of connections,” says Mark Nash, the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.” He encourages prospective residents --including those with no school-age children -- to visit a neighborhood’s schools before deciding to buy a home there.

-- Investigate the social dynamics of any neighborhood you’re considering.

Buyers seeking an interactive community are well advised to spend some time in an area they’re considering, to look for signs of positive relationships among residents -- such as whether they stop on the street to chat with each other.

“Even the most prestigious neighborhoods can have real issues,” says Nash, noting that just a few problematic residents can create problems for an entire community.

To learn more about the underlying social dynamics of a community, don’t hesitate to go door-to-door to strike up conversations with residents and talk to local shopkeepers. Ask them about the pros and cons of living in the area.

-- Visit the neighborhood on multiple days.

Nash suggests that those with a strong interest in a community visit the area at varied hours. Also consider visiting on a weekday as well as the weekend.

“Walk or drive through the neighborhood four times in a day, during the morning, at midafternoon, at dinnertime and at 11 p.m. Notice whether people are relating to each other or staying holed up in their homes nearly all of the time,” he says.

In some neighborhoods, residents are superficially friendly yet don’t build in-depth relationships with each other.

-- Don’t rule out a brand-new community.

Are you interested in moving to a subdivision that’s still under development but fear it could be an unfriendly place to raise your family? If so, Nash suggests you learn more about the community before rejecting it based on what could be an unfounded belief.

Granted, brand-new communities are often populated by two-income families with parents in their 20s to 40s who have extremely demanding daily schedules. Still, many who move to these new areas are highly motivated to build lasting friendships.

“Another positive is that in a brand-new neighborhood, everyone comes in from the same starting point. There’s no established social hierarchy for a newcomer to break into,” Nash says.

-- Remember that all good relationships take time and effort.

Those with a support structure within the immediate radius of their home have many advantages. But as Nash stresses, moving to a friendly neighborhood won’t guarantee that you develop a strong support structure unless you invest time and energy in building positive relationships. You need to socialize during times of celebration as well as in times of need.

“Don’t kid yourself that the neighbors will really be there for you when you urgently need their help if you’re not staying in touch throughout the year. As we all know, it takes a friend to make friends,” he says.

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

For years, a retired home improvement contractor considered selling his house in a leafy Baltimore suburb served by a top-rated elementary school.

What caused him to delay his sale? Living solely on Social Security, he lacked savings for essential repairs to his run-down place. For instance, he couldn't afford to replace his leaky roof and malfunctioning heating system.

But after stern warnings from a few local real estate agents, the contractor recently sold his place for a sacrificial price $200,000 below what his place could have fetched in good condition. The agents convinced him that waiting until next year wouldn’t have helped him at the bottom line.

Eric Tyson, a Connecticut-based personal finance expert, doesn’t know the contractor in this true story. But he says the man likely made the right decision.

Tyson, co-author of “House Selling for Dummies,” says that in many neighborhoods, sellers are gradually losing the upper hand as buyers gain somewhat more leverage. What’s more, he contends that in most areas this trend will likely intensify next year.

At CoreLogic, an economic think tank, CEO Frank Martell says the seller’s market is gradually weakening due to rising mortgage rates and affordability concerns on the part of potential purchasers.

“Our consumer research indicates younger millennials want to purchase homes, but the majority of them consider affordability a key obstacle,” Martell says.

A new report by the U.S. Commerce Department also reflects a possible slowdown ahead for real estate. In October, sales of newly built homes fell 8.9 percent, tumbling to their lowest point in more than two years. New home prices also slipped.

No owners want to sell their property for a sacrificial price. But if your place is in run-down condition and you lack savings for major repairs, you might have only enough money for cosmetic fixes.

Here are a few pointers for the cash-tight sellers of flawed homes:

-- Seek guidance from a seasoned real estate pro in your area.

Ashley Richardson, who sells homes through the independent Long & Foster realty chain, says a solid agent will give you a realistic list of doable tasks.

“For example, you wouldn’t want to put high-end cabinets into the kitchen of a house that’s in overall poor condition. But you might want to have your current cabinets repainted,” she says.

As the first step in the agent-selection process, Richardson recommends you interview three candidates, asking each to critique your home and itemize low-cost steps that would make it more saleable.

“You want someone who will look you straight in the eye and tell you the truth -- not someone who just tries to flatter you into giving them the listing,” she says.

-- Look for assistance in the decluttering process.

As Richardson says, many longtime owners trying to sell a home in poor condition feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the tasks that face them. Decluttering is an especially daunting prospect for those with health problems.

“Sellers who can’t do this work themselves should ask family members and friends to help,” she says.

But what if no volunteers step forward? In such cases, Richardson suggests owners may wish to hire students or others looking for temporary, part-time work.

Richardson recommends you give the person you hire a series of manageable tasks.

“For example, tell them to pack up the contents of your china closet or an overloaded bookshelf. Tell them to put the packed boxes in your garage in neat stacks,” says Richardson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

It may seem counterintuitive for the owners of a home priced for an “as is” sale to bother with the removal of clutter. But Richardson says it’s imperative.

“No one will buy a house if they can’t even see how large its rooms are,” she says.

-- Help buyers imagine your home’s possibilities.

Though many owners of property in poor condition lack the funds for major improvements, Richardson says it’s important that they make their place at least minimally appealing.

Besides clearing out your clutter, you’ll want to remove any outdated furnishings and drapes that make your home seem dark or drab. In their place, your agent might lend you a few attractive pieces to make your place look better.

“Realtors sometimes have a stock of good furniture, rugs and lamps that clients can use during the showing period,” Richardson says.

Besides adding cosmetic touches, she says the owners of an “as is” home should give visitors mock-ups and contractors’ estimates for needed improvements, like the replacement of a worn-out deck or the renovation of a bathroom to replace broken ceramic tile.

“The truth is, most people have a terrible time envisioning the potential of any house in poor condition. You’ve got to get them excited about the possibilities,” Richardson says.

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