People age 35 and younger represent the single biggest share of the home-buying market. Spurred by near record-low interest rates and rising property prices, many in this age group are now eager to buy a place. But most remain highly resistant to the purchase of a "fixer-upper."

"Most (millennials) have little extra time or inclination to take on a lot of routine maintenance, let alone big home improvement projects," says Tom Early, a real estate broker who twice served as president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Karen Rittenhouse, a real estate investor and author of "The Essential Handbook For Buying a Home," says many first-time buyers who face affordability challenges have no alternative but to choose a fixer-upper or retreat from the market altogether.

Rittenhouse's investment company is no longer doing much direct home improvement work itself, she says, "because rehabbing is exhausting."

Here are a few pointers for buyers who aspire to ownership of a low-upkeep home property:

-- Search for a single-level property for easy cleaning.

Sid Davis, a longtime real estate broker and author of "A Survival Guide For Buying a Home," says the demand for single-story houses is increasing rapidly, especially among aging baby boomers who have trouble climbing stairs or expect to face that limitation in coming years.

Beyond their investment potential, single-level properties offer advantages in terms of routine upkeep.

"As anyone who has to clean a multi-level house can tell you, that takes a lot more energy and time," Davis says.

-- Research the possibility that a condo-apartment could meet your needs.

The quest for a low-upkeep home means more people are now considering condo communities, where exterior maintenance is done for them, says Early, who helps his clients grasp the pros and cons of condo living.

But Early says it's important to carefully research the financial aspects of a condo community before committing to buy a unit there.

"You'll want to know that the owners' association has put money into an escrow account to keep up with such improvements as painting ... along with the eventual replacement of the roof," Early says.

Prior to investing in any condo, he urges you to read through the minutes of the condo association's meetings for the last two years.

"The minutes could tip you off about repair problems and indicate if there are any lawsuits pending against a former management firm, for example," he says.

-- Purchase a place where perfectionists now reside.

Are you planning to buy a home where you expect to live for just three to five years? If so, buying a home from maintenance-minded owners could let you coast on their quality upkeep. Their place will probably be in good repair, including all of the appliances.

Those who baby their homes are usually also meticulous about pruning their trees and manicuring their flowerbeds. Still, Early warns against thinking you could get by with their good landscaping habits for very long.

"A well-kept yard needs near constant attention, either from you or the landscaping crew you hire," he says.

-- Include brand-new houses in your search.

Not all new subdivisions are created equal. Some new homes will give you years of maintenance-free living, while others could mean headaches from the outset.

A dedicated real estate agent should be familiar with both new home and resale options in the area where you're looking.

Early believes that builders who add custom features to the homes they construct usually give buyers a better product than do those who mass-produce houses cookie-cutter style.

How can you find a builder with a quality edge?

"One approach is to ask those already living there. Tell them you wish to know whether they're satisfied with the quality of construction in their subdivision and if not, why not," says Early.

Home inspectors could also provide you with a solid assessment of the builder's practices.

"A well-trained home inspector usually knows which local developments will give you problems and which (will) stand the test of time," he says.

-- Consider an "almost new" home if a brand-new one is unavailable.

As Early says, those who buy a brand-new home can sometimes enjoy nearly carefree living for up to 10 years. But if you've chosen a neighborhood where there are no brand-new homes available, you might consider a nearly new place, meaning it's under five years of age.

"There's no guarantees that any house will free you from upkeep worries or let you sleep well at night without worrying that your roof won't leak and your appliances won't break down. But your odds are better if you buy a youthful place," he says.

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

After Melody Warnick's husband landed a great teaching job at a university, she vowed to make the transition a positive experience for her family.

But Warnick, a professional writer with an upbeat approach to life, was shocked at how tough it was to let go of friends and possessions and to adjust to her new town.

"Moving was really hard. I felt disappointed and lonely," she says.

Rather than allowing herself to stay miserable, Warnick, the mother of two young children, took a proactive approach to help herself and her family become bonded to their new community. The product of her planning was a book titled: "This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live."

The book details how Warnick, a natural introvert, forced herself to get involved in civic and volunteer activities that gave her a greater sense of belonging.

She also advocates "making a big effort to explore nature in your new area." To do this, she and her family now take frequent hikes and bike rides in the mountainous region where they live.

"Connecting with nature induces a sense of well-being and helps you feel happier wherever you happen to live," she says.

Ron Phipps, a veteran real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org), says that even when a housing transition is voluntary and the move doesn't involve a new town, it requires lots of adjustments.

Phipps contends that one secret to a fulfilling transition is to downsize gracefully. Here are a few pointers:

-- Ask a friend to help you purge possessions from your old place.

Vicki Norris, a former real estate agent and professional organizer, says it can take up to 24 work hours to de-clutter the average room. To avoid becoming sidetracked when preparing for a move, she says many people need an ally to help them view their possessions objectively and let go of things they can't take with them.

"It's good to have someone there with you to help you stay focused and create an organized strategy," says Norris, author of "Restoring Order to Your Home."

In an attempt to tackle the downsizing project, many people turn to family members. But Norris says you're better off with a professional organizer. One source for referrals is the real estate agent with whom you expect to list your property for sale. Another is the National Association of Professional Organizers (napo.net).

If you can't afford a professional, Norris suggests you ask a friend to come by to assist -- if only to help you structure an action plan and gain momentum toward your move.

-- Ask family members if they want memorabilia.

Retirees making a move often cling to nostalgic items they believe their grown children might want someday. But Norris says many parents believe their offspring will want a lot more things than they do.

"Typically, Mom and Dad hang on to things the kids really don't really want," says Norris, who suggests that downsizers ask grown children what items they value.

-- Develop a memory book with photos of your place.

When Norris' parents retired and put their family home up for sale, they did so voluntarily. Even so, they found it emotionally difficult to let go of a residence where they'd lived for 28 years.

Still, the process of downsizing was eased after their listing agent gave them a book of photos showing all their rooms and furnishings just as they looked before the home was staged for sale.

"That way they were able to seal their memories --including how the dining room table looked when their whole extended family came over for Thanksgiving dinners," Norris says.

-- Give away functional items you can't take with you.

As they plow through their property room-by-room, most downsizers encounter many items that crowd their space and would be costly to ship. In addition, they could have many things their children no longer want, such as outdated toys or items related to long-abandoned hobbies.

Whenever possible, Norris encourages donations of serviceable items to a nonprofit institution that will put them to good use.

"When you have to let go of your old life and transition to a whole new lifestyle, it can be enormously satisfying to know your castoffs will serve a vital purpose to help others," says.

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

Turmoil in Europe and political upheavals elsewhere are translating to very favorable mortgage rates for Americans. Such factors -- combined with still-rising home values in many real estate markets -- are tempting more U.S. homeowners to ponder mortgage refinance.

"Strong borrowers are now eligible for amazingly low rates," says Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates, which tracks the mortgage market for consumers.

Indeed, some homeowners are even considering a cash-out refinance -- an idea that was virtually unthinkable in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 crash.

Gumbinger cautions against drawing cash out of a home through a mortgage refinance (or a home equity line of credit) without serious plans for the money's use.

Scott Lanoff, the president of a small mortgage brokerage firm, says many homeowners plan to take advantage of the current low mortgage rates to pay off credit card debts. Whether that's a good idea depends on the borrowers and their level of self-discipline.

"If you're taking money out of your home equity for debt consolidation, you'd better have a solid strategy to avoid the temptation of running up those credit card balances again in the future," Lanoff says.

Here are a few pointers for those seeking to refinance:

-- Assess your credit standing before starting the refinance process.

There are several reasons why your application to refinance might be rebuffed. Perhaps you recently left a steady job to form your own company but don't yet have tax records showing strong income from the new business. Or maybe in the recent past you had to take an extended leave from your job for personal or medical reasons.

Another factor limiting mortgage market access involves what Gumbinger calls a "a severe deterioration of credit." This could result from late payments on your mortgage or a delinquent student loan.

The most common indicators of credit worthiness used by mortgage lenders involve credit scores. Lenders assume that the higher your score, the less risk you represent to those who lend you money.

Credit scores typically range between 300 and 850, and if you rank low it could severely hinder your chance of refinancing to a lower rate.

"At the very least, you'll probably pay a higher interest rate and more fees to refinance if your credit score is subpar," Gumbinger says.

Still, he says many homeowners with a few credit blemishes are actually surprised to find that their scores are higher than they'd expected.

Under federal law, consumers have free access to credit reports on a yearly basis. Alternatively, you can purchase credit reports and score information through the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) or by going to the website of Fair Isaac Corp. (myfico.com).

Gumbinger says you can easily find out if you're eligible for a lower rate by calling a few mortgage lenders and telling them your current scores.

"If you know your numbers, you're less likely to get bamboozled into paying too much to refinance," he says.

-- Look for lender quality as well as favorable rates.

"Within reason, I would leave no stone unturned in looking for the right place to refinance," Gumbinger says.

Some homeowners are comfortable using a lender from a faraway state that they've found through the internet. But Gumbinger says those who are anxious about the process are often more at ease with a nearby lender.

"It's important to realize that rates are quite uniform throughout the country. So you're not necessarily going to get a better deal from a lender in a distant location. In addition, you'll probably have a happier customer service situation locally," he says.

One obvious way to search for a customer-friendly lender is to ask friends, neighbors or work associates about companies they've used and liked. Or you can seek out referrals from the real estate agent who sold you your present home. Agents usually keep a short list of lenders whom they've found to be reliable.

-- Begin with the use of online resources.

As a starting point, Gumbinger is a big fan of the online information available to mortgage hunters.

You can use online calculators to adjust for different factors, including the amount borrowed and the full term (duration) of the loan.

"Calculators are terrific for comparing various refinance scenarios," Gumbinger says.

One of many websites offering free online calculators is that of HSH Associates (hsh.com), Gumbinger's firm. Through it, you can also buy the results of a comprehensive weekly survey of mortgage rates available through lenders that serve your area.

Another popular source for refinance information is bankrate.com.

-- Know your own power as a strong mortgage refinance customer.

Homeowners with the income, credit standing and equity to qualify for the lowest available rates when they refinance should expect lenders to compete for their business and treat them well, Gumbinger says.

"If the lender pulls a bait-and-switch tactic at any point along the way to closing, you'll want the ability to simply walk away. Remember that as a highly qualified borrower, you're in the catbird seat and deserve complete respect," he says.

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