There’s an intriguing housing trend emerging for young families out of the pandemic period.

Real estate analysts say that due to stay-at-home orders, many who own small starter homes now yearn to sell and upsize. Living together so intensely has convinced many of the deficits of their current property and the need for more private square footage, especially for dedicated home offices and children’s homework space.

At Seattle-based Zillow (zillow.com), which tracks real estate markets nationwide, senior economist Skylar Olsen reports a recent surge in online searching behavior among those seeking more spacious housing.

Meanwhile, the experience of working from home in recent weeks has convinced many adults -- and their employers -- of the viability of teleworking remotely on an indefinite basis. That opens up the possibility of leaving dense and expensive metro areas in favor of outlying communities, where large homes are less expensive.

The good news for families now wishing to trade up from a modest house is that there’s strong pent-up demand for entry-level property and a shortage of supply in this segment of the housing market.

One very recent hint of a bounce-back in home sales comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association (mba.org), which just noted a 12% weekly uptick in mortgage applications to purchase property.

Joel Kan, a vice president at the Washington, D.C.-based association, said the new statistics represent a very tentative “sign of the start of an upturn in the pandemic-delayed spring homebuying season, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions slowly ease in various markets.”

Of course, the first step for homeowners wishing to upsize involves making their current property show-worthy. Even if they plan to market the place primarily to online visitors, it’s essential that the home be stripped of clutter and excess furniture.

Nancy Meck, a professional organizer who’s helped hundreds of home sellers clear through excess belongings in preparation for a move, says the current shelter-in-place period can be an ideal time for families to declutter.

“But for every member of the family, you have to set realistic expectations and work to each person’s strengths. All the family members have to stay in their own lanes and not stress each other out,” says Meck, who offers extensive advice on her website: meckorganizing.com.

Here are a few other pointers for families hoping to sell and upsize later this year or in early 2021:

-- Lighten your project in creative ways.

Stephanie Calahan, an Illinois-based productivity consultant, recommends preparing a comprehensive written plan that spells out a systematic approach. Or you could start with a single part of one room, using a flashlight to define how large an area you’ll tackle at a given time.

“In the midst of a big decluttering effort, the flashlight allows you to focus mentally on just a single area,” she says.

Once your units of work have been defined, Calahan suggests you allocate a fixed amount of time to declutter each area and then, with the help of a kitchen timer, see if you can “beat the clock.”

-- Tackle the clothes that stuff your closets.

One of the most time-consuming tasks involved in decluttering involves what organizers call “editing your wardrobe.” Because this in an elaborate process, Meck suggests you start by pondering your wardrobe priorities before plunging into the work. Then break down the job into one-hour segments.

On her website, Meck suggests a 10-step plan for slimming down crowded clothes closets. She stresses the importance of thinking realistically about your wardrobe needs for perhaps a one-year period.

“Think about the activities you do in your current life -- not your fantasy life when you ‘take up’ gardening, register for a half-marathon or start going to concerts again,” she says.

Granted, many homebound families who are now spending many daytime hours in comfortable, exercise-style clothes need to retain some less informal attire for use after the pandemic lifts. But Meck cautions against keeping too much volume.

-- Infuse music into your work.

Obviously, taste in music varies widely. But no matter your preference, the use of music during an organizational project can help enliven your spirit and increase the intensity of your work. Consider the kind of energizing music used, for example, in dance or cycling classes.

-- Consider an online session with a professional organizer.

Even motivated families can find it challenging to mobilize for a home sale without the assistance of a professional in the field. These days, professional organizers are offering online consultations for homebound owners planning to make a move.

One way to identify an experienced professional organizer is through referrals from family, friends or co-workers. Another way is through the website of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (napo.net).

“Even if you plan to do all the work yourself, a pro in the organizational field can help give you a jump start,” Meck says.

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

An MRI tech in her 40s was stunned last week to get handed a furlough notice. After all, as a medical worker for a hospital, she’d imagined herself immune to layoffs. But due to COVID-19 -- and the economic upheaval it’s caused -- her whole financial outlook has changed unexpectedly.

As an avid saver for many years, the tech has sufficient funds to pay her bills for months ahead. Moreover, she’s been assured by her hospital she’ll be back on the job as soon as that’s safely possible. Even so, she fears her plans to refinance her high-rate mortgage to a low-rate one must be put on hold.

Mortgage specialists say the tech is undoubtedly correct that she couldn’t currently qualify for a new home loan, despite her employer’s assurances.

“When you’re applying for a mortgage, furloughed income doesn’t count, and the same is true of unemployment benefits. You have to have regular income to qualify,” says Dale Robyn Siegel, author of the “The New Rules for Mortgages.”

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Siegel says many lenders have tightened the guidelines they use when qualifying prospective borrowers. To get a home loan -- whether to refinance or purchase a property -- applicants need larger down payments and better credit scores than before.

It’s not only the rising rate of joblessness that has lenders nervous. They’re also unhappy with new federal rules that have allowed several million borrowers to postpone payments on their government-backed mortgages for up to a year.

“Even people with perfectly solid jobs and plenty of money in the bank are taking advantage of the new mortgage-forbearance program. That’s why some lenders are raising the bar high for new applicants and others are backing out entirely, especially when it comes to making jumbo loans,” says Mike Hummel, the managing director of a mortgage firm, who’s worked in the field since 1997.

Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates (hsh.com), which tracks lenders across the country, says the challenging mortgage market now facing consumers is akin to the one immediately after the real estate crisis of 2008. But in some ways, he contends consumers will be better positioned once the pandemic subsides.

For instance, he says it’s likely that after she’s back on the job, the medical tech wishing to refinance her mortgage will likely qualify for a new home loan, despite the interruption of her employment.

“Over time, I think a lot of lenders will be understanding of these special circumstances. This situation is totally different than the Great Recession,” Gumbinger says.

Still, he urges anyone planning to apply for a mortgage in the future to take steps now to strengthen their qualifications and identify sympathetic lenders.

“Rather than expecting lenders to beat a path to your door, you’re going to have to do some of the digging yourself to find the right folks to help you out,” he says.

Here are a few pointers:

-- Consider local lenders as a source for mortgage finance.

In the current economic period, the role of some national and regional lenders has diminished. Some have lately signaled their lack of interest in making mortgages through unusually stringent underwriting standards. They’d rather pursue other lines of business, which they consider safer bets.

Meanwhile, the role of local mortgage lenders, especially smaller shops, has become somewhat more prominent. Because of that, Gumbinger says many home-loan applicants could be especially well served these days by seeking out nearby lenders with whom they already have established relationships.

“Look locally at credit unions, small commercial banks and savings banks. They are absolutely competitive for your business,” he says.

-- Count on referrals to find a solid lender.

When hunting for the best mortgage lender, Gumbinger urges you to do a broad search.

Friends who’ve bought a home or refinanced a mortgage are often an excellent source of names for good lenders. If possible, try to get referrals for lenders your friends have used in recent months.

Another good source of referrals are real estate agents. Ask for at least three names of well-established lenders who’ve proven dependable.

“Realtors have their finger on the pulse of the mortgage industry. They know who’s weathered the storms of change in the past and who you can count on to get your financing through in the future,” he says.

-- Shop hard for the best mortgage rates.

Before committing to one lender, it’s always a good idea to do comparison shopping. But scouring the market for the best possible terms is especially wise these days, given that rates are hovering near historic lows.

“It’s true that a number of mortgage sources are now in retreat and others have become very wary. But remember that those lenders whose only business is making home loans -- including mortgage brokers who work with multiple financing sources -- don’t make a living unless they get their transactions to the finish line,” Gumbinger says.

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

This past January, a New Jersey couple in their 60s crafted exciting plans to leave their grand colonial-style house in favor of a small waterfront condo in North Carolina near their grandkids. The goal was to sell at a leisurely pace in early 2021.

But the couple’s plans accelerated recently after they were furloughed from their jobs. Worse, the husband was infected with COVID-19, and his illness included a costly hospital stay that further drained their savings. So they’re under financial pressure to sell the colonial right away.

With the economy in turmoil and the couple’s house not yet prepped for market, they worry about the implications of selling now. Given their shortage of cash on hand, how can they upgrade their house for showings both swiftly and inexpensively? Must they accept a sacrificial price?

Skylar Olsen, a Seattle-based economist for real estate giant Zillow, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But she says the outlook for their sale could prove better than feared. Though she cites statistics showing many would-be buyers are now pulling back from the market, she notes that many sellers are also adopting a “wait and see” approach, which means the couple will likely face relatively few rivals.

Ashley Richardson, a veteran real estate agent affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com), agrees that outlook for sellers may be better than expected in coming weeks.

“What’s surprising now is that a fair number of people working from home with their kids out of school are recognizing the pressing need for a bigger, better house,” says Richardson, who sells property in Maryland through the Long & Foster realty firm.

Realtors say it’s not only low-income people who may confront the need for a rapid sale due to the virus outbreak. People at any level of the economic ladder can find themselves without the money they need to make their place salable.

“I’ve known clients with high salaries who live paycheck to paycheck. When a crisis hits, they must totally restructure their lives and sell their house. But sometimes they don’t have the money to make it market-ready,” says Mark Nash, a real estate analyst and author of “1001 Tips for Buying & Selling a Home.”

Nash says those confronting the need to sell hurriedly due to COVID-19 issues should face the situation squarely and not delay, even if they’re entitled to postponing their monthly mortgage payments.

“You’ve got to bite the bullet and act quickly,” Nash says.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Make your place sparkling clean.

With the current extreme emphasis on hygiene, Nash says it’s more important than ever that for-sale properties appear meticulously clean.

It’s true that many interested buyers are now spending more time previewing property through virtual online tours. Yet Nash says that even now, with fears of infection, it’s exceedingly rare for buyers to commit to a purchase without touring a home’s interior in person.

“Folks will give you many extra points if they think your house is so clean they could eat off the floors,” Nash says.

-- Try to get help to do “strategic painting” and yard work.

Even if you’re financially pinched, it’s unlikely you’ll find volunteers to take on a large-scale house-painting job for nothing. But Nash says that by contacting a local church or synagogue and explaining your current situation, you might find those willing to donate a finite amount of time to help you complete some limited work that will enhance the exterior of your place.

“Focus on the importance of repainting trim, including your shutters and front door. Also, stress the need to perfect your landscaping. All these are tasks you could accomplish quickly and cheaply alongside volunteers,” he says.

-- Find a listing agent trained in “staging.”

The quest by home sellers to get the highest possible proceeds has spawned an industry of home “stagers” -- people hired to rearrange and supplement furnishings to make a For Sale property more appealing.

Stagers typically charge up to $1,000 or more for a redo. Many are quite effective at making a home look more attractive. If you lack the funds to pay a stager, Nash suggests you look for a listing agent who will provide such services without an extra fee.

“Every day more agents are trained in the art of staging, and some have a real knack for it,” he says.

How can you be sure that agents who claim expertise in staging will do a good job? Nash recommends you ask them to email you “before” and “after” photos of properties they’ve staged for clients. Look at these prior to signing a listing agreement with one of them.

Of course, in an era of social distancing, not all talented stagers are comfortable spending time within a property to do physical staging work -- but some will do so willingly if your place is vacant and you provide adequate personal protective gear.

-- Look for guidance on pricing from experienced real estate pros.

As real estate agents point out, it’s crucial that the seller of an “as is” home price it at a level that accurately reflects its condition. That way, you can reduce the risk that it will languish unsold for a lengthy period.

To offer pricing recommendations for their clients, agents typically use what are known as “comparables,” which represent past sales of similar homes in the same neighborhood. But Nash says that in this era of economic uncertainty, the key is to look forward, not back. You need someone with a sense of whether local property valuations are currently rising, falling or staying flat.

“Right now, there are a lot of missing pieces in the puzzle. Still, as the economy gradually reopens in the days and weeks to come, real estate pros should have more clarity on pricing trends,” he says.

Nash strongly recommends that those under duress to sell in the current market seek pricing guidance for agents with substantial experience and an in-depth knowledge of their neighborhood.

“Everyone knows that as in politics, all real estate is local. It takes a pro to tell you about the direction of prices in your particular hamlet,” he says.

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