For years, a couple in their late 30s -- an actor married to an environmental consultant -- nurtured dreams of leaving their cramped one-bedroom rental for a property of their own. Their quest for more space took on urgency with the birth of their second child.

Unfortunately, the couple’s attempts to find an affordable home became an agonizing and seemingly futile struggle as each place they bid on was snatched up by rival buyers willing (and able) to pay well over the asking price.

“This nightmare went on endlessly until we turned to my dad for financial help. We hated to ask but had no alternative,” the actor says. With a substantial grant from the man’s father, the couple bought an elegant but dated-looking 90-year-old place with three bedrooms, bay windows and intricate crown moldings.

George Ratiu, a senior economist for Zillow, the national real estate company, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But he’s not surprised that out of frustration they felt compelled to turn to the actor’s father for a financial assist. Indeed, Zillow research shows that more than half of first-time buyers now rely on funds gifted or loaned from family or friends to score a deal in popular markets where properties are scarce.

“The dwindling supply is driving prices almost 14% higher than they were a year ago,” Ratiu says.

Of course, considering the economic challenges facing the country and the high level of joblessness, relatively few parents can now write checks to help offspring buy a first property. Hence, many young buyers must rely on their own savings or lower their housing expectations.

Here are a few pointers for buyers:

-- Search for a modest-sized house with a big house feel.

If you’re like many people, your preference is for a home as large as you can possibly afford.

But for first-time buyers, compromise may be needed to purchase any property at all. And accepting a small home could be one of your least unpleasant alternatives.

“Settling for less space doesn’t have to be so bad. Maybe you could find a new and well-designed townhouse that has 9-to-10-foot ceilings and a two-story entryway. That kind of place could seem much bigger inside than does a tired-looking little ranch house built 30 years ago,” says James W. Hughes, a housing analyst at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

-- Look for a cosmetic “fixer” property.

Sid Davis, the author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home,” doesn’t usually recommend that money-pinched purchasers take on a true “fixer-upper” -- a home with serious structural or mechanical issues.

Far from being a bargain, such a property could prove to be a genuine money pit, requiring vastly more funds to make it habitable than you’re able to spend. On the other hand, a home with decorating problems or superficial neglect could be a very good deal. Davis calls such properties “beater-uppers.”

“It’s like buying a car with a few dings versus a bad transmission,” says Davis, a veteran real estate broker.

Davis tells the true story of a young couple of modest means who purchased a “beater-upper” as their first home.

Choosing a home with a bizarre decorating scheme and worn carpet let the young couple break into the housing market. They got a 12% discount off what similar homes were selling for in the same community.

The buyers of the multi-color house were undaunted by its decor issues. Before moving in, they took a week off work to repaint every room in neutral tones and to replace worn carpet.

“The house looked great and the buyers were thrilled with their find,” Davis says.

Besides a home with decor problems, other properties that offer the possibility of a discount include places that turn buyers off due to an unpleasant odor, poor furnishings or overgrown landscaping.

-- Consider properties that have lingered too long on the market.

Even in neighborhoods where multiple bids are common, some houses can sit unsold for weeks or even months. In most cases, the reason is that the abode was substantially overpriced from the beginning.

But eventually, even the most deluded sellers get the message that they must cut their price or give up selling entirely. This reckoning often occurs when the sellers’ listing agreement with their agent expires.

“Sellers who’ve been on the market for many days or weeks are often discouraged or even desperate,” Davis says.

He says many savvy buyers ask their agents to keep a close eye on listings that are about to expire and make sure their agents keep them posted on such listings whenever they surface.

“The idea is for you to be the first one to swoop in when the seller is finally ready to get serious about a deal,” Davis says.

Lucky purchasers can sometimes get a home under market value as a listing approaches expiration. Moreover, those who seek a property that’s gone stale on the market are unlikely to face rival bidders.

“The only catch is that for this strategy to work, you have to be patient and time your offer perfectly. To pull off this strategy, look for an agent with sharp timing and super negotiating skills,” Davis says.

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

Economists who track home price appreciation are stunned by the statistics for 2020. Even in outlying suburbs and semi-rural areas, prices for large, detached houses have escalated dramatically since COVID started.

“Strong demand drove intense competition among buyers -- causing homes to fly off the market. Housing market gains were the biggest in 15 years,” says Zillow economist Treh Manhertz.

Moreover, housing analysts predict that given the severe shortage of available properties, the price increases will only accelerate this year. That’s one reason more house-hungry buyers are now pushing the geographical limits in search of a spacious property they can afford.

“COVID is causing many young families to change their priorities. People who once craved city living are now open to owning in the deep suburbs if they can find a huge ‘forever house’ with all the bells and whistles,” says Stacy Berman, a veteran agent who’s sold property since 2002.

One reason families now wish to upsize is that during the pandemic they’ve experienced the space constraints involved with crowded family living.

“Many parents are now working from home. In addition, the kids are home all the time, with the older ones attending school from their bedrooms. Space and privacy are very limited, which is frustrating,” Berman says.

The closure of many gyms during the pandemic has caused more people to develop home-based fitness routines. Also, many families have recently adopted a dog, which calls for a large yard where the pet can romp.

Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert, says buyers considering properties in outlying areas are also looking for affordability.

“Typically, the further outside a metro area that you buy, the lower the cost per square foot of living space. That’s what real estate agents mean when they say buyers 'drive until they qualify,’” says Tyson, co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies.”

In the COVID era, he says many families want to upsize their housing with a spacious place that features an oversized kitchen, multiple bedrooms for home offices and a yard large enough for weekend volleyball.

Berman tells the true story of a couple in their 20s with a young baby who recently retreated from an urban lifestyle in Manhattan to buy a farmhouse in rural upstate New York. Despite the major change, they’re assuming the new lifestyle will please them indefinitely and that both parents will be permitted to continue working remotely for their New York-based companies.

But Berman cautions buyers against short-term thinking.

“Before you commit to a house in an outlying area, make sure your employer will let you keep working remotely after COVID. Otherwise, your commute could prove impossible,” she says.

Here are a few other pointers for pandemic-period buyers:

-- Commit your lifestyle plans to paper.

Where you choose to live has countless implications, says Doro Kiley, a certified life coach who’s helped a number of clients navigate real estate transitions. She urges clients to make a home choice within the context of their overall life plans.

“Always begin by thinking about the end product -- what you’d really like as opposed to what you would settle for,” Kiley says.

Once you have a clear vision of your ideal home and location, you can begin taking into account such practical realities as financial limits and commuting distances.

Kiley recommends that couples planning a home purchase first write down their respective visions of a dream house -- including both location and home features. They should then share their visions, combining the key elements of both into a single statement.

-- Factor in the realistic demands of a large lot.

Many people with young children hang on tightly to the hope that their kids will have a large backyard where they can play, just as they did years ago. This aspiration can influence them to pick an outlying area at the expense of their convenience and commuting time.

But are the tradeoffs necessary to acquire a large piece of land always worth it? Not necessary, says Merrill Ottwein, a Coldwell Banker broker, noting that in the post-COVID period, children will likely spend more time in organized athletic and recreational activities than did their parents.

-- Take your time when selecting a property.

Nowadays, those seeking a home in many popular areas face fierce competition from other bidders. They feel pressured to act quickly, lest they lose out to a rival. In the process, Ottwein says some buyers are now taking regrettable shortcuts -- rushing into a purchase without analyzing whether the property they buy truly matches both their primary wants and needs.

“With so much at stake, it’s a horrible idea to buy any house before you’re really ready. Don’t let your competitive instincts trick you into the wrong choice,” he says.

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

During much of 2020, multiple bidding wars frustrated vast numbers of wannabe homebuyers. Yet such real estate wars are expected to be even more intense in popular neighborhoods during the upcoming springtime selling season.

“This has been the frothiest market I’ve ever seen,” says Glenn Kelman, the CEO of Redfin (redfin.com), a national realty brokerage. To illustrate, he tells how in many areas, eager buyers are bringing lawn chairs and lining up outside open houses.

The obvious root of the problem is that buyer demand for properties is outstripping supply.

“Home price growth and time on market show the effects of plenty of buyers and not enough sellers. Prices are rising, and homes are selling faster,” says Danielle Hale, the chief economist for Realtor.com, the home listing company.

Aaron Norris, a longtime real estate analyst and investor, expects buyers to face a fiercely competitive market throughout the country in coming months.

“Spring will likely be hot, and the Biden administration seems determined to throw fuel on the flames. Discussions on forgiving college debt and a first-time buyer tax credit of $15,000 could help get an entire generation into homebuying in a market already tight on inventory,” says Norris, a vice president at PropertyRadar (propertyradar.com), a data analysis firm for real estate investors and brokers.

Norris urges those hoping to buy a property early this year to get a jump-start on rival purchasers and not wait until spring is in full bloom.

“You have to realize that buyers will be coming out in droves this spring. So, get all your ducks in a row right now and start looking,” he says.

What can buyers do immediately to increase their odds of scoring the purchase in a high-demand area? One step is to establish a relationship with a mortgage lender who can make sure they’re pre-approved for a purchase.

“You might as well get your 2020 taxes done now. Anyway, you’ll need your W-2s and likely also your tax returns when applying for a mortgage,” Norris says.

Here are a few other pointers for hopeful buyers:

-- Search for sellers in a rush to move.

Dorcas Helfant, a former president of the National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor), says the owners of upscale homes are no different from any other category of owners: Some are much more driven to sell than are others.

Some owners have no particular timeline that’s drawing them forward. Such “discretionary sellers” would like to liquidate their properties, but will readily defer their plans should they be unable to obtain the price they want.

In contrast, motivated sellers have well-defined reasons for moving. Life events such as divorce or job changes are commonly behind the need for a quick sell.

Sellers in a rush are more likely to negotiate in earnest.

Often, a home’s owners will indicate openly what’s prompting them to sell -- or they’ll permit their listing agent to do so. Alternatively, your agent can often learn more about the sellers’ circumstances or timing through polite inquiries.

-- Consider listings that have sat unsold for a lengthy time.

Sometimes truly motivated sellers hold out longer than they should, discounting their overly high list price only after they’ve become desperate.

“Sellers usually get a wake-up call after they’ve had no showings in a month or so and their denial on price has worn off,” Helfant says.

In neighborhoods where the supply of available homes is less than demand, a few sellers will still cling to an over-market price until their property becomes stigmatized.

“Even fabulous homes in excellent condition can linger unsold for weeks. Buyers who wait until deep price cuts occur can be richly rewarded for their patience,” Helfant says.

-- Attempt to improve your odds with a personal letter.

Those trying to buy in the current frenzied market often face stiff competition for properties that are well located and fairly priced. No one wants to lose a place to other bidders. But to outdo rivals, it’s not always necessary to offer the highest price.

Norris says sellers sometimes respond favorably to a personal letter attached to an offer.

“Tell the buyers how much you love their property and would enjoy living there. Also tell them about plans to raise a family in the house if that’s your intention. With so much loneliness during this pandemic, a handwritten letter practically brings tears to people’s eyes,” Norris says.

He recalls that when selling a 5,000-square-foot house, his father was swayed by such a letter from a young couple with a 10-year-old son. The parents weren’t the highest bidders, but they still prevailed because of the personal touch.

“My father fell in love with this family and their dreams. He was willing to sell for somewhat less because he wished to help them fulfill their plans,” Norris says.

-- Stay focused on your end goal.

Getting a good value is always a positive in a home-buying situation. But especially for those who expect to hold a place for more than five years, it can sometimes be worth a slightly over-market bid to outdo others for a place they truly love.

“If the property you’ve found is exceptional and really meets your long-held desires, it could be wise to offer a small premium,” Helfant says.

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