When it comes to purchasing a home, many people aren't especially hard to please. Sure they want a safe neighborhood, good schools and solid construction. But assuming they find a property with those elements, they're ready to bid.

If they lose out to rival bidders, there's no heartache because they figure they'll find another property that's equally nice.

But then there are rare homebuyers willing to spend months looking for the perfect home. They know exactly what they want or need and are willing to do what it takes to obtain it.

In this category was a doctor who specialized in emergency medicine and needed a property on a main road within one mile from his hospital. He and his wife -- also a physician -- also wanted an exceptional elementary school for their three young kids.

To meet their exacting requirements, Ashley Richardson -- the couple's real estate agent -- narrowed the search, finding just one home that qualified. The couple made a generous bid for it and prevailed.

"Some homebuyers are well justified for being fussy," says Richardson, who's affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (www.crs.com).

There can be many reasons why some buyers have a "must-have" feeling about a property. Some are captivated by historic details or the work of a specific architect. Others dream of a hard-to-find setting -- for example, a property that abuts a nature preserve. Others want to live very close to relatives.

Michael Crowley, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org), tells the true story of a woman in her 20s who insisted on buying right next to her grandfather -- an ailing 70-year-old.

"The minute that next-door house came on the market, she had to have it. That was the only place she'd even consider and price didn't seem to matter. In fact, she overpaid," Crowley recalls.

John Rygiol, an independent real estate broker who specializes in working solely with buyers, says an increasing number of baby boomers now wish to live close to their grown children. They also want a one-level house, which -- depending on the area -- could narrow their search parameters dramatically.

He says that in many neighborhoods a lack of available housing inventory is complicating the search for homebuyers with specific wants or needs.

Are you a homebuyer with exacting requirements? If so, these pointers could prove useful:

-- Make it clear you can afford the sellers' property.

Before accepting an offer, sellers want assurances that the buyers have the wherewithal to make good on a proposed deal. If you're competing for a one-of-a-kind property in an area with few listings, getting your financing lined up in advance is crucial.

One way to prove you're qualified is with a "pre-approval letter" from a bank or mortgage-lending firm. Such a letter is granted only after your credit history has been checked and your income verified. Proof of income can be demonstrated through pay stubs and W-2 statements.

To strengthen your bid even more, Crowley says it's wise to also provide copies of account statements showing you have the funds to cover both your down payment and closing costs. Also, note where you work and how long you've been employed there.

-- Submit a friendly letter along with your bid.

Crowley says it's almost universally true that people who've lived in a home for years become emotionally attached to it. Because this is so common, letting the sellers know you love their home could conceivably influence them to favor your offer. One way to show your appreciation is by attaching a brief letter to your bid.

What should you say in such a letter?

To be most effective, Crowley suggests you focus on areas that are apparent priorities for the home's owners.

"Look around the home and you can easily tell what the owners value most," he says.

-- Shape an offer adapted to the sellers' timing needs.

Though the bottom line is nearly always the leading factor that determines whether the sellers of a home accept, reject or counter your bid, timing also counts.

Suppose, for example, that the owners need to shed the property quickly because they're making an out-of-state job move. If so, they could wish to close quickly. On the other hand, a couple making an elaborate retirement move might prefer to delay closing for months. In either case, adapting to the sellers' timing could help you get your first offer accepted in a tight-market situation.

-- Consider trying to beat rivals by outbidding them -- within reason.

Rygiol calls it an "escalation clause" and, not surprisingly, it's a powerful tool that some buyers are now beginning to use to outdo other bidders in highly competitive markets. It's a clause in the sales contract that promises to pay a set amount above the highest bidder -- up to a maximum fixed sum.

But this should only be considered a sort of "nuclear option." Crowley says he tries to dissuade most clients from using such a clause -- no matter how much they want a home. He insists that typical purchasers who lose a home to another bidder later find another that's just as good or better.

"The minute you decide you have to have a house no matter the price, you're going to pay too much. As we found out in the last boom market, a feeding frenzy is not in the buyers' interest," Crowley says.

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

During the financial crisis, it was widely reported that many young Americans had lost interest in homeownership. They wanted a car and an iPhone, yes, yet were supposedly indifferent to the purchase of property.

But fast-forward to 2013 and real estate specialists say people in their 20s and 30s never really lost their taste for homeownership. Or if they did, it was only fleeting.

"The American dream of buying a home is alive and kicking. The yearning to own a place is in our collective DNA," says Sid Davis, a veteran real estate broker and author of "A Survival Guiding for Buying a Home."

He says first-time homebuyers are still influenced by the same motivations that led their parents and grandparents into homeownership.

"People want a safe place to raise a family and a backyard where their kids can play. They want to be able to decorate and paint the house a color of their choice --without interference from a landlord," Davis says.

He says the current resurgence in interest in homeownership among young adults is linked to low mortgage rates and still-reasonable prices that many wannabe owners worry cannot last.

"Home values are now rising nearly everywhere, which creates a sense of urgency to buy soon," Davis says.

But there are also factors restraining young adults in their pursuit of a home. One is that many who've attended college or grad school are laden with student loan payments, which can severely constrain their capacity to qualify for a mortgage.

Here are a few pointers for novice homebuyers:

-- Focus on financial planning first.

For young buyers making an entry-level income, questions often arise about how much they're willing to spend on housing versus other financial priorities, says Leo Berard, charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org).

"It's hard for people of all ages, but especially for young people, to balance their current desires for a great house with future plans that involve money, like traveling abroad or starting a family," Berard says.

Given the surge in foreclosures in the recent past, real estate agents and mortgage lenders are less likely than before to encourage buyers to max out their home loan eligibility. And buyers of all ages fear the implications of taking on too much debt.

"You don't want to be 'house poor.' So it's absolutely essential to project ahead for your money needs," says Berard, who encourages buyers to define their money goals before setting out to shop for a home.

Are you unsure how to go about conducting a financial analysis? In that case, you might benefit from a few hours spent with a trusted accountant or financial planner. One source of referrals for fee-only financial planners willing to work on an hourly basis is through the Garrett Financial Planning Network (www.garrettplanningnetwork.com).

-- Look at property alternatives before picking a home.

Realtors who work with first-time buyers say that many -- including those living in small apartments -- are often so wowed by the first property they visit that they're prone to making a hasty choice. But until they've considered alternatives in the same or nearby neighborhoods, Berard says it's smart for them to keep their options open.

Imagine you're focused on a townhouse with a terrace in a brand-new gated development on the western side of a likeable suburb. Before you bid on that townhouse, however, you might wish to investigate what your money would buy in a detached dwelling on the eastern side of town where the yards are larger.

The benefits of comparison shopping may seem obvious. Nevertheless, many homebuyers do less of it than do car buyers, Berard says.

-- Do a comparative sales analysis before you bid.

To price their properties correctly, it's long been common practice for home sellers to rely on their listing agents for a review of recent sale prices in the neighborhood where they're selling. But Davis says it's an equally good idea for homebuyers to do a review of recent sales -- ideally for deals that have closed in the prior six months.

"The more recent the sales data, the better," he says.

Are you seeking to buy in an area where few similar homes have sold lately? If so, you may need to rely on comparable sales of dissimilar homes in the same neighborhood.

"Even if the houses are all different in architecture, you still can at least compare them on a price-per-square-foot basis," Davis says.

Besides examining comparable sales, he says that homebuyers should get a grasp on overall market trend for the neighborhood before bidding.

"Ask your agent to look at 'days on market' for the area. If it's taking longer for homes to sell, that could indicate that demand is dropping and vice versa," Davis says.

-- Allow sufficient time for a professional home inspection.

Are you a young homebuyer who wants to live in an established neighborhood where properties are more than 10 years old? If so, Berard says you should be doubly sure your offer is conditional on a thorough home inspection that can detect any serious flaws or structural problems with the property you've selected.

"As young buyers, you should be especially concerned that you've caught any defects that would be exceptionally costly to fix. If your inspector finds serious problems, you'll need an escape hatch," Berard says.

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

The real estate market is rallying -- easing the way for sellers in an increasing number of neighborhoods. Yet in most areas, homebuyers still retain bargaining muscle. Yet for many couples, one big catch remains: They have a terrible time agreeing on what they truly want in a property.

"It's extremely unusual for both people in a couple to agree on all the elements of the home purchase. This discord can lead to a huge level of friction," says Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and author of "Let's Get Real About Money!"

Although money disputes can arise over any financial matter, such as the right car to buy or where to vacation, Tyson says it's especially likely they'll surface over a home purchase.

"Choosing which house to buy is a tremendously high-stakes decision," he says. "And people don't always realize how many strong feelings are packed into that choice." Given all the emotion, Tyson says it's understandable that husband and wife are often at odds on where to live and what abode to buy.

"Sometimes, one partner dominates the decision-making and the other one simply surrenders. But this is dangerous because it can create lasting resentment within the couple," he says.

To avert an unhappy outcome, Tyson recommends that couples take the time to talk out their individual hopes and ideals before committing to a particular neighborhood or property. Here are a few pointers:

-- Communicate your views on money early in your relationship.

Some couples approach marriage with more of a focus on their wedding than on deep-seated attitudes about money and other values.

"People shy away from money discussions before marriage. They fear that talking about money will seem unromantic," Tyson says.

However, money issues -- including attitudes about the right home to buy -- are so central to a couple's plans that refusing to address them early "can lead to fireworks for the marriage later," Tyson says.

Before they can reach a solid decision on which home to buy, a couple needs to unearth their primary beliefs about money, says Tyson, whose book includes paper-and-pencil exercises to help people discover unspoken values about financial matters.

"Try to pull away from your hectic life -- if only for a couple of hours -- to discuss what's really important to each of you before you go out looking for housing," Tyson says.

-- First seek agreement on a neighborhood, then on a specific home.

Agreeing on broad money decisions is a good prelude for more focused conversations on real estate. For example, early on you should decide if you want to max out on your mortgage eligibility. After that, it's time to zero in on a community you like, says Leo Berard, charter president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

He advocates for couples to take a systematic approach to neighborhood selection, with both partners first itemizing their individual priorities before then compiling a unified list.

Once you've selected a neighborhood, the next step is to choose an architectural style and floor plans that work for both of you.

-- Use "I don't like" lists to discover your personal preferences.

During his more than two decades running an independent realty firm, Berard developed several strategies to help homebuyers figure out what type of property to buy. His favorite tool: "I Don't Like" lists.

The idea is for both partners to create separate lists of home features they dislike in their present residence -- whether that current home is a rented apartment or a detached house. For example, maybe the husband loathes their tiny kitchen, which makes it tough to host dinner parties. And perhaps the wife is unhappy that their kids lack a playroom with ample space for toys.

Once you have your individual "I don't like" lists written out, simply reverse the elements on each list to discover those features that are genuinely important to each of you.

"It's amazing how really helpful these lists of dislikes can be when you're trying to determine what you really want. They can also help to highlight disparities between husband and wife," Berard says.

-- Consider asking your agent to help you reconcile differences.

Although real estate agents aren't trained as psychologists, Tyson says they can often be helpful to couples who find themselves at odds over the type of property to buy.

"It's not always possible to bridge wide discrepancies. But an experienced agent -- who's long used mediation skills to assist other clients -- should be willing to give it a try," Tyson says.

-- Leave your kids out of the decision-making process.

Suppose you and your partner are struggling to find common ground between his preference to buy a one-level house with a small terrace and your desire for a large colonial with a spacious yard where your kids and dogs could romp.

Because you're a family, you may wish to bring the children along on house-hunting expeditions. Indeed, you might even imagine your kids could help you reconcile your differences and therefore make a sound decision.

But Tyson says kids are rarely helpful and that more often their involvement in the decision-making process will result in confusion rather than resolution.

Should you decide to bring your children along, Tyson says you should make sure you let them know that Mom and Dad will be the ones making the ultimate decision on what to buy.

"Teenagers can be especially opinionated on what they like in a house. Go ahead and let them weigh in on your decision. But giving them a vote or veto will only complicate matters," Tyson says.

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