A newly married couple are finally expecting to move in together this month. But they’ve decided to rent for a brief period, advancing slowly and methodically toward a home purchase sometime next year.

Felipe Chacon, a housing economist with Trulia, the real estate research firm, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But he’s not surprised they’re taking a wait-and-see approach to homeownership.

“There are a lot of headwinds hitting buyers right now. Affordability has been a growing concern for several years, and now mortgage rates are starting to pick up,” Chacon says.

“People ... know we could be due for a recession and ... hope conditions will be better for buyers next year,” Chacon says.

One potential sign that the strong seller’s market is starting to recede is that more owners are now marking down the list prices on their properties. According to a Trulia analysis, the share of sellers taking price cuts has shot up in recent months. Indeed, the number of cuts has now grown to its highest level in four years.

Meanwhile, sales of newly constructed homes fell sharply in September, reflecting a weakening in the seller’s market. And Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org), reports that sales of existing homes also dropped in September.

“This is the lowest existing home sales level since November 2015,” Yun says.

Here are a few pointers for potential homebuyers planning ahead for 2019:

-- Find an experienced real estate agent to help guide you.

People who are relocating, whether for a job change or to buy a more spacious place -- are well advised to search for an agent who has years of experience selling homes in any community they’re considering, says Tom Early, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Before you start looking at specific properties, a strong agent will help you navigate the new locale, supplying you with data on home prices and valuation trends, relative school performance statistics and information on nearby amenities, such as parks and hiker-biker trails.

-- Avoid any agent who tries to rush you.

Although agents are compensated on commission, and therefore don’t make any money until a sale goes through, a reputable one won’t try to hurry you into a purchase before you’re ready, says Eric Tyson, co-author of “Home Buying for Dummies.”

“It’s a big red flag if an agent starts pushing you,” he says.

Of course, it’s not fair to ask the agent to spend multiple weekends over months showing you properties unless you’re progressing toward your goal of homeownership. Every veteran agent has had to cut ties with clients who looked continuously without any serious intention of buying.

Still, as Tyson says, it’s not unreasonable to spend up to six months doing intermittent (yet focused) outings with an agent before committing to a property purchase in an area that’s new to you.

-- Supplement your search with visits to open houses.

If you’re a long-lead-time buyer planning a major housing change, such as a move from a suburban house to a high-rise condo, you needn’t rely solely on your agent to help you sort through your choices. You can do much of the footwork on your own.

“By visiting a lot of open houses, you can narrow down what you do and don’t like in a home. Eliminating alternatives can be extremely useful in narrowing your search,” Early says.

Many open houses are heavily advertised with street signs posted by the listing agents for the properties. If you’re considering condo-apartments, however, Early suggests you consult local newspaper or internet advertising for open house details.

-- Conduct your own on-the-ground research.

As you develop a short list of housing alternatives, some of the most useful sources of realistic information are people who live or work in the areas you’re considering.

“People usually know their neck of the woods as well as any professional who sells property there. Unless they’re trying to unload their home, the neighbors will tell you the real skinny about traffic tie-ups, school problems and noise issues,” Early says.

What’s the best way to approach neighborhood residents? He recommends you walk through the community on a weekend afternoon when many people are likely to be out in their yards. Tell them you admire their neighborhood and are considering a move there. Then feel free to politely pose a few questions.

“If people start giving you the cold shoulder, you can bet that neighborhood is unfriendly. For that reason alone, you may want to drop it from your list,” Early says.

Those considering a condo may find it harder to chat with a building’s residents, though some may talk to you as they enter or exit the complex. Also, an agent who lists property in that building could line up resident contacts for you.

“People are remarkably candid about the places where they live, and if you approach them in a genial way, most will genuinely give you the context you need to help choose an amazing property in a very livable area,” Early says.

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

A married couple in their 30s -- two IT professionals who work from their laptops -- have just put their colonial house in a leafy Baltimore neighborhood up for sale. Their plan: to hit the road in their Airstream travel trailer, along with their little Jack Russell terrier.

"This couple wants to see all of America, Canada and Mexico. They're lucky not to be tied down to an office routine," says Ashley Richardson, the veteran real estate agent who's listed the pair's property.

For decades, retirees have unloaded excessive belongings, left big houses and moved to smaller, more carefree quarters. But in recent years, more young adults are also choosing to downsize.

"These sellers figure that life is short and they don't need a big house to be happy," says Richardson, who's affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (www.crs.com).

Of course, few downsizers make as radical a shift in lifestyle as this couple. A more typical case is Dave Bruno, a strong proponent of the voluntary simplicity movement. He and his wife -- the parents of three school-age children -- sold their 2,100-square-foot Spanish-style property and moved to a 1,300-square-foot place in the same San Diego suburb.

"A lot of us have traded true wealth for the illusion of affluence," says Bruno, author of "The 100 Thing Challenge: How I Got Rid of Almost Everything, Remade My Life and Regained My Soul."

Bruno pared his personal possessions down from 300 to just 100 and has kept at that level for several years. With less energy spent managing a spacious and crowded house, Bruno says he was able to sharpen his focus on higher priorities -- including his family, friends and writing. Happy with the results of his challenge, he convinced his wife and children that downsizing the family's housing would also yield significant quality-of-life improvements.

"By moving to a smaller place, we have more time to relax and enjoy family time. We're living below our means and saving for our kids' college funds," says Bruno, a professional speaker who also heads a consulting firm called Middle Makers (www.middlemakers.com).

Bruno allows that downsizing involves trade-offs. His family remained in the same neighborhood so his kids could attend the same schools, but everyone in the house has less personal space. Two of his three kids now share a bedroom. Also, the family's communal rooms -- including their kitchen -- are much more compact.

To be sure, many Americans of all ages still favor large houses and are especially likely to seek more space as their young families grow. Even so, inventory-tight neighborhoods are now beginning to witness a gradual increase in supply -- with some of the newly listed properties sold by downsizers.

Here are a few pointers for homeowners hankering to downsize:

-- Recognize that a smaller lifestyle can take many forms. Duane Elgin, who's authored several books on voluntary simplicity, estimates that perhaps 20 percent of U.S. adults are now challenging the commonly held view that a bigger house is always better. But he also allows that the dreams of downsizers are quite varied.

Your vision could be to stay in the same suburban community, though with a smaller and less financially demanding home. Alternatively, you could choose to leave suburbia and reinvent your life in an urban loft or a rustic rural cottage.

Though many view downsizing as a form of sacrifice, Elgin says it can lead to greater richness.

"We live in such a frenetic, driven society. To evaluate our lifestyles, we need to step back and get clear. We need to ask whether the pressure of payments on a big house is worth it," he says.

-- Start with small victories in your quest to live more compactly. Even before you put your current property up for sale and begin searching for the right smaller place to buy, Bruno suggests you begin a methodical process of plowing through your accumulations to contain your material life.

"Start in your bedroom closet. We all have too many clothes and this is one area where you can score an early victory against clutter," Bruno says. "As you go through your clothes, select a unique outfit for every day in a two-week period. Put your extra clothes in storage for two months and see if you even miss them."

After that, look for other satisfying victories by sifting through your "junk drawers" one at a time. Next, head to your garage for a purging.

-- Give yourself sufficient time to make the transition. Bruno cautions homeowners that the process of downsizing -- from the day you make the decision to move to the day you close on the purchase of a smaller property -- can be time-consuming.

"You need to allow yourself plenty of time to make this transition and especially to sort through all your things. It took years to accumulate all that stuff, so you're not going to clear through all of it overnight," he says.

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

A divorced man in his late 60s was already struggling with medical issues when he was also diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was compelled to put his 1960s-era bungalow up for sale. He needed the money to buy a condo in an assisted living community near relatives.

Even though he’d previously worked as a home remodeler, the owner had let upkeep on his house slide for years. His living quarters were crammed with unsorted possessions, and the whole place cried out for a paint job. But he lacked both the funds and energy to undertake the necessary improvements before selling.

Unfortunately, this true tale didn’t end happily. Though the man’s bungalow was located in a solid suburban neighborhood with forested yards and a coveted elementary school, the property languished unsold for nearly a year. Ultimately, he accepted his only bid -- an extreme lowball from a couple who hauled in a dumpster for the man’s castaways and then tackled the renovations themselves.

John Rygiol, a veteran real estate broker, says selling a house “as is” nearly always results in sacrificial returns.

“These days, buyers’ eyes are accustomed to seeing model-homelike interiors. So, any place that goes on the market in a shabby condition is usually passed over,” says Rygiol, who heads an independent realty firm.

Housing economists say that “as is” sellers must moderate their expectations, especially in the current economy.

“The rise in mortgage rates this summer to their highest level in seven years has made it more difficult for potential buyers to afford a home. The slackening in demand is reflected in the slowing of national appreciation,” says Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic, which tracks real estate markets throughout the country.

Nothaft is now forecasting upcoming valuation adjustments for housing, based on CoreLogic’s estimate that 38 percent of all metro area properties are now “overvalued.”

Even though now may not be the best of times for “as is” sellers to liquidate, Rygiol says many in this category simply can’t wait.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Concentrate on low-cost changes with impact.

Owners with few resources can still increase their odds of getting somewhat more for their “as is” property with little or no cash expended. Even those who must rely on volunteers to make their homes presentable are better off than sellers who do nothing to improve the looks of their property.

“It’s unbelievable the bad reaction buyers have to a house that’s messy,” says Rygiol, who’s affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Claire Jean Prager, a veteran real estate broker, says financially challenged sellers should consider searching for volunteers by looking on the internet for a support group, such as a cancer survivor network or a nearby faith organization.

“Go to a local church or synagogue and ask if they know anyone who could help you. You don’t have to be a member,” Prager says.

As you embark on a cleaning and decluttering blitz, she recommends you first focus on removing excess furniture and personal items that make it hard for those viewing your place to picture themselves living there.

“For example, I’m talking about all those photos and notes attached to your refrigerator with magnets and all those many family mementos. Get all these items packed up and put away in a storage area,” Prager says.

-- Try to find a listing agent trained to redo your interior.

The current real estate climate has spawned the new industry of professional home stagers. These are people hired to rearrange and supplement furnishings to make properties more appealing.

Mark Nash, a real estate broker and the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home,” says stagers typically charge $300 or more for a minor redo. But if you lack the funds to pay a stager, he suggests you look for a listing agent who will provide such services without charging an extra fee.

“An increasing number of agents are trained in staging, and some are getting very good at it,” he says.

-- Make your “as is” property more saleable with the right list price.

Rygiol says some owners are still tempted to “test the market” with an original list price at the high end of the neighborhood range.

But he says those in this predicament are better off pricing from the outset at the precise current market value of their property, given its current condition.

“Go around your neighborhood and look at For Sale signs as indications of the strongest and most successful agents in your area. Then call three of these top agents, asking them to come over and recommend a totally realistic selling price,” Rygiol says.

He says you shouldn’t necessarily select the agent who suggests the highest list price of the three. Rather, listen intently to their advice on how your “as is” property should go on the market.

“Tell your agent you want to sell in 90 days or less, and ask what price and marketing plan will get that job done,” Rygiol says.

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