Until this week, Dana Rice, a top-selling Maryland real estate broker, had virtually no showings for the several properties she’d recently listed. Then a few days ago, a nondescript split-level she put on the market attracted a surprising level of interest. Indeed, more than 40 buyers contacted her office to seek private tours of the place.

“Look how fast it turned on a dime,” Rice says about her popular suburban market, where homes are once again attracting multiple offers.

Of course, such anecdotal reports don’t prove a national trend. All real estate is local, and real estate values are slipping in some formerly overheated markets. But in other areas, interest in buying property is starting to spring back and prices are gradually rising again.

“Nowadays, real estate is bipolar -- with the once hottest markets turning cool and vice versa,” says Sid Davis, the author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

Some statistics underscore this disparity in markets, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor).

He notes that roughly 1 in 10 U.S. markets experienced home-price declines in the fourth quarter. Yet prices are stabilizing or still rising -- albeit more slowly -- in the other 90% of markets.

“Prices are expected to remain stable in the vast majority of the markets due to extremely limited supply,” Yun says.

Obviously, mortgage rates are much higher than last year -- adding to the affordability challenge that makes it far harder for both first-time buyers and trade-up purchasers to fulfill their housing aspirations. But even in fast-moving markets, price gains are more subdued than in 2022.

In December, property prices nationally were 6.9% higher than in a comparable period last year. That’s according to CoreLogic (corelogic.com), an economics firm that tracks real estate prices across the country. Even so, buyers are relieved that in most coveted communities, prices aren’t rising at double-digit rates, as they did during much of the pandemic.

The pervasive inventory shortage is unnerving to many would-be buyers who’ve halted their search. But after adjusting their search criteria, other buyers are resuming their quest.

Here are a few pointers for purchasers in areas where few homes are available:

-- Consider someone else’s junk as your opportunity.

Listing agents often have a terrible time convincing clients to clear through the clutter that packs their place. For that reason, it’s not unusual for a property to hit the market in a cluttered condition -- a definite turnoff to most potential buyers.

But Dorcas Helfant, a Virginia broker and past president of the National Association of Realtors, says smart home shoppers realize it’s possible to get a fair deal on a cluttered home -- assuming they’re capable of looking beyond the accumulations to the property’s inherent structure and floor plan.

“The idea is to picture the house as if it were vacant and then decide if it has the ‘good bones’ you’re looking for. This is hard, but it can be done,” Helfant says.

She estimates that at least 60% of the home-buying public can’t envision how different a cluttered home would look if all the sellers’ excess belongings were hauled away.

One way to address this problem is to ask someone with clearer vision to stop by the place and take a look. This could be an interior designer, a professional home stager or an artistic friend.

“A crowded house can represent an excellent possibility for those who can see past all that junk. And remember, sellers are forced to take their stuff with them when they move,” Helfant says.

-- Don’t rule out exotic decors.

The home-improvement shows on TV are one reason more owners are now experimenting with unusual wall colorings and carpet hues. But the raspberry dining room or purple kitchen the owners fancy is likely to send many prospects away.

“Of course, people are free to paint their entire interior in Pepto-Bismol pink. But they shouldn’t expect buyers to want their house if they do something that eccentric,” Helfant says.

Listing agents tire of trying to convince clients to “neutralize” their homes before they go on the market --which often means repainting walls in a light neutral tone and replacing odd-colored carpet with something neutral.

Just like the cluttered house, the flamboyantly decorated house offers opportunity for people with vision to obtain a property for a favorable price.

“People with the ability to see the potential in this type of a house can really find a diamond in the rough,” Helfant says.

-- Realize that online property photos may not tell the whole story.

Nowadays, most buyers sift through lots of online ads before agreeing to visit a particular place. If they don’t like what they see in the pictures, they’ll decline to visit a house on that basis alone.

But some good-looking homes are simply not photogenic, while others are merely poorly photographed.

Either way, you could be the winner if you’re willing to visit a home that others won’t tour because of unfavorable photos.

“A wonderful and well-priced surprise could await you when you open the door of a house others have missed,” Helfant says.

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

For 33 years, an engineer and his artist wife relished life on a 10-acre lakeside house in exurban Minnesota. They delighted in the wildlife they’d spot near their property -- including loons and sandhill cranes.

But age crept up on the couple -- now in their early 70s. Minor health issues began to surface, as did their annoyance with all the raking, mowing and snow shoveling their big yard demanded. What’s more, cleaning and upkeep of their spacious house was taxing.

“It was time to lighten our load,” the artist says.

A few years later, a prime townhouse unit became unexpectedly available in a nearby retirement community recommended by former coworkers. But to afford the new place, they had to declutter and put their lakeside home on the market promptly.

Though it was exhausting, the couple met the challenge. They did a massive purge of possessions -- giving away many to family and friends who attended their “farewell party.” Recently, their house sold in just four days to a surgeon who bid well over the asking price.

Overall, the couple is happy with their transition --though they miss their extensive flower gardens and workshop. They’re glad they planned well ahead and made the move while they still had sufficient stamina for the stunningly difficult moving process.

“We didn’t imagine how hard it would be,” the artist says.

David Ekerdt, an expert on senior housing, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But he credits them for moving before any major health problems developed.

“If you’re going to downsize, it’s way smarter to be proactive. Start before you face a crisis. That way you‘ll have time to adjust to the new area and make friends there,” says Ekerdt, a sociology professor emeritus at the University of Kansas.

Of course, an increasing number of baby boomers want to age in place and stay in their present homes. This is exacerbating the housing shortage across the nation, says Doug Duncan, the chief economist for Fannie Mae, the giant government-sponsored mortgage company.

One factor that’s anchoring many retirees to longtime residences is that they’re holding low-rate mortgages and don’t want to buy a new place at the current market rates, which are much higher.

“The people who own those houses aren’t going to change houses anytime soon,” Duncan says.

Still, many Americans are compelled to sell and downsize for financial or medical reasons. Here are a few pointers for downsizers:

-- Remove excess furniture early in the process.

For most people, one major step toward downsizing involves dispensing with large pieces of furniture. Beyond family heirlooms and precious antiques, many find this process relatively easy because they don’t have sentimental attachments to most furniture.

Sid Davis, a longtime real estate broker and author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home,” suggests one way to clear space and furniture quickly is to put it up for sale. He says many of his home-selling clients find it relatively easy to sell superfluous items through online outlets. However, you’ll likely want to sell antiques through a reputable dealer.

“There’s always a good market for furniture,” Davis says.

He says downsizers often make enough money selling oversized furniture to buy new, more appropriately sized pieces for their smaller home.

-- Try to avoid renting a storage unit if possible.

Many downsizers succumb to the temptation to place their belongings in a storage unit before they move. But Beverly Coggins, the author of “Three Steps to Downsizing to a Smaller Residence,” strongly advises against this course.

“Storage units are expensive. And for most people they’re just an excuse to postpone making decisions on stuff they need to eliminate,” she says.

She says many people feel especially anxious about letting go of things given to them as gifts from relatives or close friends. But she says such feelings are needless.

“It doesn’t mean you love the person any less because you can’t keep everything they give you,” she says.

To be sure, you’ll not want to cast off items with unusual meaning to you, like family pictures and love letters. But unfortunately, you may not be able to take everything you value to your new place. In such cases, Coggins suggests you take photos of the treasured items. These can be framed and hung up in your new domain.

-- Consider charities with pickup services.

Many downsizers find it easier to let go of extra belongings if they know they’ll go to good use. That’s why Coggins and other professional organizers often advocate contacting nonprofit organizations interested in collecting serviceable items.

Very often, charity groups will pick up items from your home, a convenient way to eliminate excess belongings. Also, with a pickup appointment you’ll have a definite deadline for your work -- which can serve as a motivating factor.

The Salvation Army, for example, offers pickup services in many areas. To learn more or schedule a pickup, visit the organization’s website: (salvationarmyusa.org) or contact its toll-free number: 800-728-7825.

-- Focus on the positives in your future.

In reality, many seniors must downsize to cut expenses, whether to reduce utility bills, upkeep costs, property taxes or an outstanding mortgage balance. Yet many who must move to a smaller home find that doing so has its favorable points -- including less financial stress.

Coggins also notes another benefit of downsizing. With fewer home upkeep demands, you’ll have more time to focus on those most important to you.

“When they downsize, many people realize more fully that it’s relationships -- not stuff -- that bring happiness,” she says.

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

Just a year before the pandemic, a married couple in their 30s bought a condo near downtown Philadelphia. Built in the late 1940s, the unit lacks several modern conveniences -- such as an in-condo laundry and ample parking. But when the couple bought the place, they thought the building’s proximity to their offices made up for these shortcomings.

COVID-19 changed the pair’s housing priorities dramatically. Both partners have been offered the option of permanent full-time remote work and have accepted the privilege.

That’s why they’re now in the market for a larger house in another state.

“For the sake of our marriage, we need much more space to spare each other’s nerves during work hours. We’re crying out for a detached place with at least 2,500 square feet and two big home offices,” says the wife, a data analyst for a hospital chain.

Fully 60% of U.S. workers hold jobs that can’t be done remotely. And numerous other workers have recently been called back to the office by their bosses, according to the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank. But due to remote work, this Philadelphia couple is fortunate to have a wide array of lifestyle choices.

”We plan to keep our Philadelphia jobs but move to South Dakota, where our families live. There we could afford a really huge house on an acre or two of land. It’s a luxury to have the right to pick our new destination,” the husband says.

Of course, nearly all buyers face tough challenges in the current market. Though home prices have dropped in some metro areas, they continue to rise at the national level. Since last year, median prices across the country rose 2.3%, to $366,900. And available properties remain scarce in popular neighborhoods.

“The housing market is still reeling from affordability problems,” says Jeff Tucker, a senior economist at Zillow, the Seattle-based real estate company.

Given the hurdles facing them, buyers are more thoughtful than ever in assessing their lifestyle preferences before committing to a property. That way, they’re less likely to suffer buyer’s remorse.

“It’s not just which city and neighborhood you choose. Also think about a floor plan that would function well for you,” says Sid Davis, a Utah-based real estate broker.

Though many young households have long favored an open floor plan that merges a great room with the kitchen, that configuration is gradually losing some appeal. Also, more buyers want secluded home offices with doors.

“Walls and privacy are coming back, and more buyers now want a separate dining room. Over dinner, they hate looking at dirty dishes,” says Davis, author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home.”

Here are a few pointers for purchasers:

-- Distinguish between your housing wants and needs.

Nearly all buyers must make trade-offs when they purchase a home. Unless you’re wealthy, you’ll need to set priorities.

“Making a priority list is the absolute key. You have to decide what features are most important for everyone living in your household,” Davis says.

If you’re married or living with a partner, he recommends you sit down with the other person and each rank your housing priorities. Then compare notes and if there are differences, compromise.

-- Consider whether a large house is worth the expense.

Among buyers who seek a spacious home are those who love to throw large parties and family gatherings -- as well as people who believe that home entertaining is central to the fulfillment of their professional responsibilities.

“I know CEOs who think they must have a very big place to show off to clients or colleagues. They feel the need for this, even if their spouses don’t want all the complications of big house upkeep,” says Mark Nash, a longtime broker in the Chicago area.

If home-based entertaining with large events is something you value highly, and you’re comfortable with the mortgage and tax costs for a big property, why not go for it? But if you’re interested in the financial benefits of living smaller, Nash suggests you consider some less expensive options for your parties.

“Why not take your guests to your favorite restaurant and rent a space for your parties? That could be a lot less expensive than maintaining a big house just for entertaining,” says Nash, the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

-- Take a realistic view of your storage needs.

Davis says many buyers like big houses because they place a premium on lots of storage space. For instance, people with large wardrobes often want a spare bedroom to serve as a walk-in closet. Others want extra garage space for their hobbies, such as collecting vintage cars. In addition, for general storage many families appreciate a “storage loft” above their garage.

Assuming you can afford it, Davis says buying a large house for extra storage space could be a reasonable idea. After all, a large house could save you a significant sum over the rental expense required for the long-term use of a self-storage unit. But he cautions against the assumption that a large house will allow you to keep accumulating ever more possessions without a problem.

“No matter how much storage space you get in a big house, you’ll eventually need to stop shopping or clear through the accumulations you already have,” Davis says. (To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)