A medical researcher married to a landscape designer long fantasized about moving from their cramped city townhouse to an exurban place with extra acreage.

A few days ago, when they finally found the perfect home, they put in an immediate offer. Their signed contract is now pending.

The couple has zero second thoughts about their property choice. Yet the husband is extremely nervous about how ownership of the home will play out in the future, given the economic challenges facing the country due to the virus outbreak. Indeed, he’s suffering so much insomnia that he now spends nights in the guest bedroom to avoid keeping his wife awake.

Both partners in this true story are confident their jobs are secure. Based on their income and good credit, they’ve been preapproved for a low-rate mortgage with a sizable down payment. Yet what’s giving the man restless nights are a series of worst-case scenarios. He especially fears an extended economic downturn that could cause the value of their property to plummet.

Fred Meyer doesn’t know the young couple in this true story. But the veteran real estate broker, who’s also a licensed appraiser, says it’s likely these buyers are making a sound investment, assuming they hold the property for several years or longer.

“Just as with the stock market, long-term is what matters,” says Meyer, who sells real estate around Harvard University, an area of strong appreciation.

Why is Meyer so bullish on the future of residential real estate in popular metro areas? Because property in such neighborhoods remains in short supply, and a surge of young adults is now moving into the household formation stage of their lives -- getting married and having children.

Of course, Meyer wouldn’t advise any potential buyers to move ahead with a property purchase this year if their personal finances are threatened.

“If your job is shaky or your credit is weak, this is not a good time to buy. Nor should you buy now if you intend to move again in just a year or two,” he says.

Fear of a decline in property values is just one worry now blocking many wannabe owners. Some fears are rational and can be addressed, while others are strictly emotional. Here are a few pointers for buyers on coping with their worries:

-- Write down your fears to examine them for validity.

Sheri Petersen, a life coach who advises numerous clients pursuing homebuying goals, says many people who are troubled by fears of moving forward are only vaguely aware of what’s stopping them.

“Write down every single thing that scares you and check each one out to see if it’s valid. You don’t want irrational doubts to stop you from a fulfilling life if you can address or adapt to these fears,” she says.

For instance, to address a worry that you might inadvertently buy into a crime-ridden neighborhood, drive to the community and talk to residents there to ask about their experiences with crime. Or go to the website of the local police department to review crime statistics.

To address a fear of buying a property with defects that could be costly to remedy, make sure you schedule a pre-closing home inspection with a company that does in-depth work. One way to find a local inspection firm with a solid background and training is through the website of the American Society of Home Inspectors: homeinspector.org.

Petersen learned techniques for dealing with anxieties in a seminar led by Rhonda Britten, who’s written several self-help books on how to attack worries proactively. She was especially influenced by Britten’s book “Fearless Living,” which she recommends to first-time homebuyers.

-- Use time-management tools to keep you from getting bogged down.

Pamela Dodd, a psychologist and co-author of “The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques,” says buyers can take advantage of the same skills office administrators use to keep projects on track.

Your first step, she says, is to create the kind of “vision statement” athletes use to picture themselves scoring in a big game. Using the present tense, describe as closely as possible what your new life will look and feel like once you’ve reached your homeownership goal.

“Fill your vision statement with sensory images and enrich it with detail,” Dodd says. “You don’t need anything more complicated than pen and paper to develop and track your action plan,” she says.

Whatever method you use to develop your plan, the key to making it more practical and less daunting is to “chunk it down” into small, manageable pieces, according to Dodd.

For example, some small first steps for wannabe buyers could include contacting a real estate agent and phoning potential lenders.

-- Don’t allow family or friends to frighten you needlessly.

Dodd cautions those seeking to buy a first home against soliciting advice from too many sources and especially from people close to them who are likely less than objective about their situation.

“Given the current state of the economy, some friends and family might even try to talk you out of homebuying. Their intentions are good,” she says.

As Dodd points out, if you ask for lots of opinions “you’re always going to encounter naysayers.”

She suggests you restrict the number of people from whom you solicit or accept advice during your homebuying quest.

“Only ask for opinions from people you trust, whom you’ve chosen to advise you,” she says.

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

There’s no sugarcoating the reality: Real estate specialists acknowledge that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the usually robust springtime home-selling market has slowed to a near standstill in many areas, with both buyers and sellers backing off.

“No one knows for sure but it’s likely many sales that would have occurred this spring will have to wait until the summer, fall or maybe even longer,” says Stacy Berman, a veteran real estate agent who specializes in the luxury segment of the market.

National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun says a new survey of real estate pros reveals that nearly half report a decline in buyer interest due to the outbreak. Numerous sellers are also retreating from the market, canceling open houses and other showings.

“The decline in confidence related to the direction of the economy, coupled with the unprecedented measures taken to combat the spread of COVID-19, ... are naturally bringing an abundance of caution among buyers and sellers,” Yun says.

But economists emphasize that the current downturn is fundamentally different than the housing crisis of 2008, which led to a serious, albeit temporary, decline in property values. One major factor that’s different this year is that property in popular neighborhoods remains in short supply.

“With fewer listings in what’s already a housing shortage environment, home prices are likely to hold steady,” Yun says.

What’s more, demographic trends should continue to support a strong housing market after the outbreak ebbs. That’s because numerous older homeowners need to eventually liquidate large family properties to support themselves in retirement. Meanwhile, many young adults are anxious to move forward with a first or second-time purchase.

Berman urges potential home sellers to roll up their sleeves and take full advantage of their homebound days to prepare in advance for a successful sale when ultimately that occurs.

“I suggest you seek guidance from your listing agent about do-it-yourself projects that could make a big difference later when your property goes on the market,” she says.

Here are a few pointers for homeowners planning a future sale:

-- Muscle through clutter accumulations during your homebound hours.

Vicki Norris, a professional organizing guru, says one of the most crucial steps in preparing a property for sale -- ridding it of excess furniture and accumulations -- is also one of the least expensive and accessible to those now homebound.

“Chaos and other people’s stuff are instant turn-offs to buyers. So your collection of memorabilia can cost you the eventual sale of your home,” says Norris, author of “Restoring Order to Your Home.”

Given that many potential sellers have time on their hands now, they can focus on decluttering projects that wouldn’t have fit into tighter schedules in the past. However, to execute an effective decluttering plan, one that will make your place look clean and clear, many owners do well with a team effort to keep them on track.

School closures due to COVID-19 have many students home for extended periods. If that’s the case with your family, and you need reinforcements to assist with cleaning and culling in advance of your home sale, Berman suggests you consider hiring your offspring to help.

-- Tackle simple kitchen renovations if you’re handy.

Sid Davis, an independent real estate broker and author, says your kitchen should be the focal point of your pre-sale home improvement program, but that upgrades in this part of your property needn’t be as elaborate as many imagine.

“Some of the most important projects cost around $1,000 to $2,000 each,” says Davis, author of “Home Makeovers That Sell.”

Davis doesn’t recommend that homeowners embark on do-it-yourself projects unless they have basic skills or training to tackle the work. And he definitely dissuades nearly all owners from taking on major electrical, plumbing or roofing work.

Still, there are many small kitchen projects that could be appropriate for homebound sellers. One typically involves improvements to kitchen cabinets.

“If you have wood cabinets, you can make them look a lot better through a thorough cleaning with Murphy Oil Soap, followed by a rubdown with lemon oil. If that doesn’t do the trick, sand and restain your cabinets or paint them in a high-gloss white. Also, be sure to add new hardware, which shouldn’t cost you more than $50,” Davis says.

Another low-cost kitchen improvement involves replacing worn flooring. Davis says the skills needed for this task are easily acquired through an online class from a home center store.

“Vinyl flooring is the cheapest, but the price for a nice tile floor has come down dramatically,” Davis says.

-- Embark on interior painting jobs.

One proven strategy for adding appeal to your interior is to paint the walls and trim throughout. For advice on painting technique, consult the websites of major paint companies.

“The only major element to a good painting job involves solid preparation, mainly sanding and surfacing -- and attention to detail,” Davis says.

Though painting is a cost-effective way to put your property in peak selling condition for a small amount of cash, he says it’s essential to select your paint carefully.

“Relative to its impact, paint isn’t expensive. However, grades vary widely. To get a good grade, you spend extra per can. But the quality differential for excellent paint makes a huge difference,” Davis says.

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

Many seniors close to retirement aspire to finally buy a second home in a vacation setting. Surprisingly low mortgage rates make that goal seem all the more viable at present. Yet because the volatile economy is now eroding savings accounts, many want to be doubly sure they’re making a safe move.

Take the case of a self-employed couple in their early 60s who dreamed of building a mountainside cottage. But before signing a contract, they first reviewed their finances.

To be sure they were on solid ground, the couple headed to the office of Shawn Koch, a certified financial planner. She helped them compare their savings against their expected future cash flow needs in retirement. She also factored in the Social Security benefits they could collect to help cover their income needs during their non-working years. This gave them the confidence to move forward with their plans.

The reason this self-employed couple could afford to fulfill their home-building plans was that they’d lived frugally and built a sizable retirement portfolio. Equally important was that both could qualify for substantial Social Security benefits once they reached 66, what the government currently defines as their “full retirement age.”

“Although it will never make you rich, collecting Social Security is like purchasing a government-backed annuity with built-in cost-of-living adjustments for the rest of your life,” Koch says.

Lesley Brey, the founder of a fee-only financial planning firm who’s developed an expertise in Social Security, urges anyone contemplating retirement to wait beyond age 62 before starting to collect their benefits, assuming they can afford to do so.

“Social Security benefits are for the rest of your life -- however long you live. People shouldn’t give up this longevity insurance lightly,” says Brey, who’s worked in the financial planning field since 1997.

Here are a few home-buying pointers for those nearing retirement:

-- Seek help to outline a retirement budget.

Eric Tyson, a consumer expert and co-author of “Personal Finance for Seniors for Dummies,” recommends that before they start shopping for a second home, seniors ask an accountant or financial planner to help them develop a retirement budget. Alternatively, they can create their own budget with the use of one of the free retirement calculators available on the internet through such companies as Vanguard (vanguard.com) or T. Rowe Price (troweprice.com)

In making your calculations, Tyson, who formerly worked as a financial counselor, strongly recommends you assume you’ll survive into your 80s or even 90s.

The only people who can afford to assume an abbreviated life span, Tyson says, are those diagnosed with serious medical issues.

-- Avoid claiming Social Security benefits just to fund your second home.

Brey says once they’re eligible, many people find the notion of tapping benefits tantalizing. This is especially likely if they’re anxious to purchase a second home.

“At age 62, the temptation to start drawing Social Security benefits right away can be very, very strong,” she says.

But Brey urges anyone who can hold out for larger retirement benefits at age 66 or beyond to do so. And she says it would be particularly unwise to claim early, with lesser benefits, for the purpose of helping fund a second home purchase.

“In case you live to 94, you want to be sure you have a sufficient financial buffer,” she says.

-- Factor lifestyle preferences into your second home decision.

For many who’ve long been attentive to the need for retirement savings, Tyson says Social Security represents a relatively minor component of their retirement plans. Those with a large nest egg can typically afford to wait until age 66 or even later to start collecting benefits.

Moreover, many in this group can consider the purchase of a second home without reliance on Social Security to help cover their mortgage payments.

As Tyson notes, some financial planners are biased against buying real estate in the years prior to retirement. After all, many planners (except those who work on a “fee-only” basis) make their living on commissions from the sale of investment products, as well as insurance, and not real estate.

But Tyson says people who’ve amassed a large war chest of retirement assets or who are entitled to benefits from a healthy traditional pension program, or both, could now be well-positioned to actualize a second home purchase.

“Preparing for retirement is not all about numbers. It’s also about having a great quality of life going forward,” he says.

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