Stacy Berman has sold homes in the Washington, D.C., area since 2002. These days, she’s surprised by how many buyers of all ages are bailing on the suburbs. Instead, many aspire to ownership of a condo in a historic building close to the heart of the nation's capital.

But after they’ve thought through the implications of living in an old building, many of Berman’s city-oriented buyers modify their plans and instead choose a unit in a newish building with a stripped-down “industrial loft” feel and an open floor plan.

“For some people, there are too many everyday trade-offs to life in an old building. For example, many old buildings lack the convenience of a washer-dryer within the unit and are short on garage space,” she says.

Steven Israel, a real estate broker affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org), urges urban condo buyers to consider the cost implications of living in an older building.

“Older buildings can be more expensive to run. You want to be sure the place you buy has been maintained in the past and has a war chest for future improvements,” Israel says.

Mark Nash, a longtime real estate broker and the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home,” says whether you buy an older condo or a relatively new one, it’s still possible to get a favorable deal in many gentrifying city neighborhoods.

But he advises against selecting any building where more than 20 percent of the units are “investment properties” occupied by renters.

“I don’t care what great people the renters are. They simply aren’t as motivated to keep the building nice as owners are,” Nash says.

Here are a few pointers for city condo buyers:

-- Seek to avoid a very large condo building.

When Nash shopped for a condo in Chicago some years ago, he had a wide selection of buildings from which to choose. To make sure he selected well, he did a thorough comparison of his choices.

Nash says his analysis convinced him that it’s better to avoid a condo in any building with more than 500 units.

“There can be many cons to living in a really large building. One is that you can confront a lot of red tape when dealing with the management company,” he says.

After several weeks of condo shopping, Nash ultimately chose a unit in a building with just 44 units.

“For me, this is perfect. The residents are friendly, and the building isn’t run like a bureaucracy,” he says.

-- Look for an area with easy transportation access.

One of the attractions of city living -- especially in a vibrant urban community -- is that you can often position yourself within walking distance of many desirable neighborhood amenities.

“People are increasingly interested in living near their work, especially if that area also has good restaurants and other positives. Besides, you can probably count on better appreciation in a neighborhood with close access to a subway or commuter rail system,” Nash says.

When choosing an urban condo, don’t overlook such basic amenities as close access to shopping, especially to a quality supermarket. In addition, Nash recommends you forgo buying a city condo unless you plan to remain in the area for a minimum of three to five years.

-- Seek a building where noise won’t be a problem.

An older building can be elegant and give you more square feet than a newer one for the same money. Yet in the long run, you could find a newer building more commodious. Much depends on the quality of construction and the era in which the property was built. Though generalizations don’t always apply, Nash says structures under about 10 years of age typically provide lifestyle features you can’t obtain in an older building.

“Besides the comfort of a more energy-efficient building with good windows, you usually get better soundproofing in a newly constructed building. The floors are better and the walls are more insulated,” he says.

-- Think through whether your parking access would be sufficient.

Many who hanker for an urban condo imagine a lifestyle more reliant on public transit than cars. But while it’s true that relatively few people residing in New York City own cars, condo owners in most other major U.S. cities want access to a vehicle of their own.

Because of that, Nash says it’s usually unwise to buy a unit in a building that doesn’t allow you at least one parking space. Ideally, the building should also provide parking for your guests or have arrangements in place for valet parking.

“The reality is that, unlike many people around the world, most Americans are still very car-oriented. Even if you don’t care about car ownership, you’ve got to consider where your family and friends will park when they come visit you,” Nash says.

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

A decade ago, after the residential real estate market tanked, bargains were rife and qualified buyers had their pick of properties at reasonable prices. But now the picture is vastly different.

“Today, home prices are at or approaching record highs in many markets,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

Yun forecasts that some of the nation’s most overheated real estate markets will experience sales slowdowns as 2018 progresses.

“Drops in home sales can be connected directly to supply shortages and corresponding price increases,” he says.

Buyers still determined to snag a decent deal in a popular neighborhood should consider what’s known as a “stale listing," according to real estate pros.

“Stale listings can be a treasure trove of good values,” says Stephen Israel, the president of a real estate firm affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

What sets stale listings apart is that they’ve sat unsold for longer than the average selling time for their neighborhoods. But Israel cautions that selling times can vary widely depending on the popularity of a community and the local economy.

“Look at each home individually and find out its listing history. It may be the home was listed with a different agent before and then later relisted with a new agent. Because of that, you may need to dig to determine how long it’s really been up for sale,” he says.

Sid Davis, a real estate broker and the author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home,” says the most common reason a property goes unsold for a lengthy period is that it was overpriced when it first hit the market. Even after a series of price reductions, such a home typically retains its stigma, which continues to drive away potential buyers.

“The longer a house is on the market, the less it sells for. That’s one of the tenets of real estate,” Davis says.

Here are a few pointers for buyers:

-- Inform yourself about values in your target neighborhood.

Many who are open to the idea of buying a stale property are novice buyers on limited budgets. To navigate the market with confidence, Davis says they need to inform themselves about property values in the area where they’re searching.

“Do your homework before going out and making any offer,” Davis says.

Very often, the owners of a stale property will ratchet down the price in incremental drops. The key for a prospective bidder is to know when the sellers are approaching a realistic price point.

“You and your agent need to do a thorough analysis of the area so you’ll have a good feel for the true value of any house you like. That way, you won’t be flying blind when you venture a bid,” Davis says.

The key to determining market value is to closely examine the data on recently closed home sales on similar properties -- known as comparables, or comps for short.

“Make sure your agent shows you very recent comps that are really similar to the house you want to buy,” Davis says.

“When deciding how much to bid on a stale listing, don’t focus on the list price. Instead, orient your offer to what the market is really paying for that kind of a house in that neighborhood.”

-- Set up a system to ensure you’re alerted when price drops occur.

Have you found a home that’s appealing, but believe it’s significantly overpriced?

If so, Israel suggests you track that property closely, waiting for its owners to take a price cut that brings it closer to its true market value.

To stay alert to potential pricing changes for the property of your choice, Israel recommends you ask your real estate agent to keep you constantly updated by email or text.

“Ideally, you should be kept informed on a daily basis,” Israel says.

-- Seek to time your bid advantageously.

Are you focused on a particular property whose owners have finally agreed to a major price reduction after the place has lingered on the market for a lengthy time? In that case, you may be tempted to come in right away with your bid.

But Israel says it still could be wise to wait for a few days before bidding on a formerly overpriced place. That’s because typical sellers will wait a while after cutting their price before entertaining any offers.

“Of course, there are always exceptions. If you’re really in love with the house and think the sellers are finally realistic on price, don’t wait any longer. Bid right after the price drop or you could risk losing your dream house to another offer,” he says.

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

When it comes to housing trends, two are in near-perfect sync right now. Homebuyers suffering from sticker shock are increasingly interested in the price-per-square-foot advantage of choosing a townhouse over a detached property. Meanwhile, builders struggling with rising costs are increasingly favorable to townhouse construction.

Although townhouses now represent just 13 percent of all new single-family homes, their market share is gaining steadily, says Danushka Nanayakkara, a senior economist for the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org).

“Millennials want median-density residential neighborhoods in walkable environments, where townhouses are more common. This is now the largest population cohort of homebuyers,” Nanayakkara says.

Though she notes that townhouses typically come with smaller yards than detached homes, this is acceptable to many first-time buyers in their 20s or early 30s. At the same time, developers save money when they build on the smaller lots that townhouses require.

Tom Early, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org), says people pondering the purchase of a townhouse should seriously think through the trade-offs.

“Most townhouses are very vertical, and that translates to loads of stairs,” Early says.

And though townhouses often come with far less maintenance and upkeep demands than detached homes, there is a downside.

“Face it, because of all the rules, townhouses aren’t great for rugged individualists. For example, you’ll be barred from painting your front door fluorescent orange,” he says.

Here are a few tips for those contemplating a townhouse purchase:

-- Place a premium on location.

It can be tiring to hear that location should beat all other factors when it comes to choosing a home. But this principle remains true, says Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies.”

Tyson urges you to look for a neighborhood served by high-quality schools, even if you have no plans for children. Also, he encourages you to seek easy access to such popular amenities as movie theaters, cafes and stores. In addition, look for an area near well-rated public transit.

“Already, we’re seeing close-in communities appreciate faster than those far outside metro areas. This trend will only accelerate in the future,” Tyson says.

Even people who would prefer a detached house might consider buying a townhouse in a coveted neighborhood if that’s all they can afford there. That’s because over time, as Tyson says, you can anticipate that the townhouse in the premier area will be a better investment than a traditional detached home in a weaker area.

-- Look for a townhouse with an expansive interior.

Nowadays, most buyers strongly favor an open, airy, bright house. But many townhouses have relatively few windows, are narrow from side to side and deep from front to back.

“To get a more open feeling, try to find a townhouse that’s wider than average. Also, look for one where the rooms are square rather than rectangular and one with larger-than-average windows. But remember that big windows typically mean higher energy costs,” Early says.

Another way to obtain a more open, airy feeling in a townhouse is to buy one with high ceilings.

“Luckily, lots of new townhouses have ceilings that are at least 10 feet high or higher. That way, the rooms seem larger and people feel less cramped,” Early says.

-- Don’t trade off adequate parking.

New townhouses are typically built to give each unit a one- or two-car garage. That means your own parking needs should be met. But what about visitors to your home?

“Many people are unhappy after moving to any place that forces their friends and family to hunt and hunt for parking,” Early says.

He tells clients the best way to scope out the parking situation near a townhouse complex is to ask those already living there about their experience with parking in the common areas of the community.

-- Look for a harmonious community.

In nearly all townhouse communities, residents are bound together through a residents' association. As Early says, the quality of leadership in that group can make a major difference for residents there.

"Search for a community where people can reach consensus harmoniously rather than through arguments and petty disagreements,” he says.

Well-functioning associations set aside money for major expenses, like the replacement of a roof or renovation of a pool house. Otherwise, everyone living in the community could be hit with a special assessment -- which could mean a steep increase in your monthly association fees.

To investigate the operations of a townhouse association, Early suggests you ask for minutes of its last three meetings to see if major disputes are pending within the organization.

“Don’t move to a place where neighbors are squabbling or you’re at risk for a bad case of buyer’s remorse,” he says.

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