A couple in their 40s -- an ophthalmologist married to a pediatrician -- were so preoccupied with their careers that they scarcely noticed how their four kids had outgrown the family's compact bungalow. It was only after a family member prodded them to seek larger quarters that they decided to sell.

Once in gear, however, they took a businesslike approach to hiring the best available listing agent. To expedite their transition to the more spacious Tudor house they'd picked out, they wanted a skillful agent who knew their neighborhood well and would recommend the right asking price. The keys to finding this person? Create a short list and then interview multiple candidates.

Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of "House Selling for Dummies," doesn't know the couple in this true story. But he applauds them for their thoughtful selection of a qualified agent who helped price and stage their property correctly. In the end, the pair's bungalow attracted multiple offers and sold above the asking price in just three days.

"It's all too common for sellers to take a trivial approach to hiring a listing agent. In many cases, people just make a random selection of agents -- picking someone a neighbor or co-worker happens to know. But selling success depends on due diligence," Tyson says.

Granted, some owners do well on their sale without a highly qualified agent -- particularly if they're lucky enough to enjoy a robust seller's market. But real estate specialists caution against overconfidence -- especially at a time when there are crosscurrents in the economy, as there are now.

Ron Phipps, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Realtors (www.realtor.org), says more sellers are gradually getting the message about the importance of careful agent selection.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Make sure you interview at least two to four candidates.

"When you talk to several people, you'll get different perspectives on your sale," Phipps says. "Several opinions on pricing can be especially helpful."

He says you should be wary of any agent who suggests you list your place for more than 10 percent above what others say is its fair market value.

"Find out how they arrived at that higher price," says Phipps, noting that occasionally some agents may suggest an above-market list price as a way to flatter you into hiring them. This practice is known as "buying the listing."

-- Focus on local knowledge.

Your cousin or that highly recommended friend-of-a-friend might be an excellent real estate agent. But should you consider hiring this person if their office is located a significant distance away from your place?

Absolutely not, says Tyson, who contends that a faraway agent is likely to be much less effective in marketing your property than one who knows your local turf well.

"Anyone who works more than a 15-minute drive from your place is probably a very poor bet. Geography matters a lot," he says.

It's especially wise to have an agent close by if you're trying to sell a property in a city setting -- such as a condo in a high-rise building. In such a case, the ideal agent is typically someone with proven experience selling units in your same building.

"Agents with an intimate knowledge of the floor plans and sales history of your complex can hit the pricing target right the first time. That spares you the agony of multiple pricing adjustments later," Tyson says.

Realtors call the area where they most often sell homes their "farm." As Tyson says, agents who say they farm your area should be able to demonstrate this with a list of transactions they've done there recently.

-- Request information about a candidate's awards and honors.

How can you identify agents who have achieved an unusual level of expertise? Phipps says one way to distinguish among agents is to ask if they've been elected to positions of leadership within their professional groups.

"This shows they have a reputation for collaborating with other real estate people," Phipps says. That's important, he says, because real estate is a cooperative profession, and a successful sale typically involves more than one agent.

-- Pick an agent with a proven deal-closing record.

During boom times, most sellers feel home free once they've obtained a ratified contract -- meaning their deal has been agreed upon by both sides of the transaction.

But in a transitional economic period like the current one, many sellers are understandably nervous that complications along the way to closing might jettison their deal. That's because qualifying for a mortgage is trickier than it was prior to the last real estate downturn a decade ago. Consequently, more home loan applications are declined than before.

"Selling has become much more complicated. So it's smart to find an agent with experience handling many different kinds of transactions. Look for their record of closing deals, not just taking listings," Phipps says.

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

For many Americans, this is a puzzling time for the economy. On the one hand, unemployment is low and people are shopping their hearts out. On the other, the stock market is volatile and even economists are unsure where the country is headed.

Such uncertainty is especially worrisome for those moving to take a new job during the first quarter of 2019. Should they buy a property in the new area or wait until the dust settles for the economy and the housing market? That’s a key question.

Merrill Ottwein, a veteran real estate broker specializing in relocation, offers general pointers for buyers unsure of the market.

“Buying a home in a hurry could be a terrific decision if it gets you a dream place and prevents you from locking yourself into an expensive long-term lease. But it could be a lousy choice if you aren’t careful what you buy,” says Ottwein, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

One factor pushing some job-changers into the hasty purchase is the prospect of rising mortgage rates in coming months, according to Paul Lueken, the CEO of a mortgage lending firm based in Chicago.

“Look for the housing sector to have a tougher year in 2019, unless 30-year fixed mortgage rates can fall back to the low fours,” Lueken says.

But in most neighborhoods, home valuations should remain relatively stable in the near future, regardless of a possible slump in the overall economy, says Mark Boud, the chief economist for Metrostudy, a firm that provides market intelligence to the homebuilding industry.

Boud says that even if there is a recession in coming months, home values won’t drop the way they did during the downturn a decade ago. That’s because many areas remain short on housing inventory, particularly in the starter-home segment.

Here are a few pointers for income-limited homebuyers in a hurry:

-- Challenge the idea of accepting a long commute.

It’s no secret that housing is still a major expense for those on tight budgets, especially first-time buyers with moderate incomes. Because of that, some buyers make tough trade-offs they later come to regret. Ottwein says it’s not unusual for some purchasers to accept a punishing commute to a distant community in order to buy a large house.

How long a commute is too long? That depends on the buyers involved and the type of commute. For example, driving in heavy stop-and-start traffic can become far more tiring than one on a free-flowing highway.

“I would worry about any commute that’s over 50 minutes each way. But in some cases, this could be tolerable to get what you want. For example, if you work in the city but love horses, you might be willing to make a long daily commute to get the rural acreage you need for that lifestyle,” Ottwein says.

-- Exercise caution before buying a “fixer-upper.”

Ottwein urges any homebuyer considering a property that needs rehab work to get reliable estimates on the cost of restoring the place. To obtain a sense of potential repair costs, your home inspector can help with estimates, and your real estate agent should be willing to help you arrange with contractors for bids.

Are you convinced you could handle the renovation work yourself?

If so, Ottwein recommends you do a reality check by canvassing friends who know you well. Ask them if they think this big do-it-yourself project would be a good option for you, both in terms of your skill level and available free time.

“Your friends can help you gain perspective on the possible pitfalls,” he says.

-- Choose options early when buying in a new subdivision.

If you’re planning to purchase a brand-new house, you’re likely to be faced with many trade-offs before your contract is written.

“For one package price, some builders give lump-sum allowances for anything ranging from lighting fixtures to appliances to landscaping to kitchen cabinets. Anything not included in that package will cost you extra money,” Ottwein says.

These choices should be made before the sales contract is written, but not under pressure from a hurried homebuilder or salesperson.

Those who are indecisive at the outset may find they have to pay a premium price for options they later decide they want.

“Once your contract is signed, you have little leverage left in negotiating with the builder," Ottwein says.

New-home buyers on a tight budget may wish to defer those items that can be installed later with relative ease, such as landscaping upgrades or window treatments.

“Lock in early those choices that are part of the infrastructure. The other options can wait until you have the funds to put them in yourself,” Ottwein says.

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

Government leaders and academics all over America are fretting about an emerging social problem: loneliness.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska wrote a book about the issue. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University, links it to rising medical problems. And Dr. Vivek Murthy, a former U.S. surgeon general, declared it “a public health epidemic.”

Meanwhile, real estate agents report that an increasing number of homebuyers wish to move to an area where neighbors engage with each other in friendly ways. Families with children are especially eager to reside in a community where kids have nearby playmates and families share in neighborhood-wide events.

“For many purchasers, a friendly neighborhood is more important than a house with lots of square footage,” says Tom Early, a veteran real estate broker who specializes in helping buyers.

But he acknowledges it can be tricky to discern whether an area will prove sociable.

“Sometimes, signs of neighborhood friendliness are subtle. Home shoppers have to dig below the surface for clues to sociability, and that means asking lots of questions,” says Early, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Here are a few pointers for homebuyers:

-- Search for a community with strong ties to neighborhood schools.

A strong school can help draw people together, tightening bonds among residents of all ages, says William Bainbridge, president of the SchoolMatch Institute, (schoolmatch.com), which helps clients assess school quality.

Must you move to an affluent area to find a school with both high-quality facilities and a dedicated teaching force? Not necessarily, according to Bainbridge, who says parental involvement is a key factor in school quality and one that can be present in any type of community.

How does a strong neighborhood school help bind residents together?

“Children are the conduit for lots of connections,” says Mark Nash, the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.” He encourages prospective residents --including those with no school-age children -- to visit a neighborhood’s schools before deciding to buy a home there.

-- Investigate the social dynamics of any neighborhood you’re considering.

Buyers seeking an interactive community are well advised to spend some time in an area they’re considering, to look for signs of positive relationships among residents -- such as whether they stop on the street to chat with each other.

“Even the most prestigious neighborhoods can have real issues,” says Nash, noting that just a few problematic residents can create problems for an entire community.

To learn more about the underlying social dynamics of a community, don’t hesitate to go door-to-door to strike up conversations with residents and talk to local shopkeepers. Ask them about the pros and cons of living in the area.

-- Visit the neighborhood on multiple days.

Nash suggests that those with a strong interest in a community visit the area at varied hours. Also consider visiting on a weekday as well as the weekend.

“Walk or drive through the neighborhood four times in a day, during the morning, at midafternoon, at dinnertime and at 11 p.m. Notice whether people are relating to each other or staying holed up in their homes nearly all of the time,” he says.

In some neighborhoods, residents are superficially friendly yet don’t build in-depth relationships with each other.

-- Don’t rule out a brand-new community.

Are you interested in moving to a subdivision that’s still under development but fear it could be an unfriendly place to raise your family? If so, Nash suggests you learn more about the community before rejecting it based on what could be an unfounded belief.

Granted, brand-new communities are often populated by two-income families with parents in their 20s to 40s who have extremely demanding daily schedules. Still, many who move to these new areas are highly motivated to build lasting friendships.

“Another positive is that in a brand-new neighborhood, everyone comes in from the same starting point. There’s no established social hierarchy for a newcomer to break into,” Nash says.

-- Remember that all good relationships take time and effort.

Those with a support structure within the immediate radius of their home have many advantages. But as Nash stresses, moving to a friendly neighborhood won’t guarantee that you develop a strong support structure unless you invest time and energy in building positive relationships. You need to socialize during times of celebration as well as in times of need.

“Don’t kid yourself that the neighbors will really be there for you when you urgently need their help if you’re not staying in touch throughout the year. As we all know, it takes a friend to make friends,” he says.

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