Throughout 2019, home sellers in most neighborhoods have been riding high due to rising prices and a shortage of available property. But economists are cautioning that outlook could change in the new year.

“Sellers in 2020 will contend with flattening price growth and slowing activity, requiring more patience and a thoughtful approach to pricing,” says George Ratiu, a senior economist at Realtor.com, a real estate listings website.

Still, Ratiu doesn’t anticipate a steep drop in demand for property in 2020 akin to what happened during the Great Recession just over a decade ago. What’s more, he expects that sales activity could stay robust in certain affordable communities that are popular with young, cash-tight buyers.

“Sellers of homes priced for entry-level buyers can expect the market to remain competitive and prices to stay firm,” Ratiu says.

No matter the market conditions they’ll face, those who hope to sell in 2020 can’t afford an attitude of complacency, says Eric Tyson, a consumer advocate and co-author of “House Selling for Dummies.”

“To achieve the best possible outcome for your sale, it’s tremendously important that you take a proactive approach. That means all the cosmetic upgrades and repairs your place needs should be done before it’s available for public showings,” Tyson says.

One option for savvy sellers is to arrange for a professional home inspection even before their listing hits the market. This approach is recommended by Dylan Chalk, a veteran inspector and author of “The Confident House Hunter.”

R. Dodge Woodson, author of multiple books on home repairs and remodeling, says many sellers are reluctant to go forward with pre-sale repairs because of the cost and inconvenience involved.

Still, he says it’s important to spend the time it takes to search for the right contractors for your repair work, whether that involves fixing a nonfunctional garage door or repairing a leaky roof.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Take a broad approach to identifying good contractors.

Woodson advises against using online advertising to hunt for home improvement contractors. A more reliable approach is to seek recommendations from friends, neighbors or work associates who’ve had experience with the contractors they’re suggesting.

“Ask everyone you know for names. Consider this a treasure hunt,” Woodson says.

Besides those in your immediate circle, Tyson says you may wish to garner contractors’ names through the real estate agent with whom you plan to list your home.

“Realtors can really be good sources because they have lots of interactions with contractors. They’ll hear complaints if a contractor does a lousy job,” Tyson says.

Also, contractors may be more attentive to your project if they know you might complain about their work to the agent, which could hurt their chances for repeat business.

“If an agent hears complaints about contractors, the agent might stop throwing them work. This fear gives them an incentive to work harder for you,” Tyson says.

-- Seek a number of estimates from contractors.

Woodson, who has worked much of his career as a licensed plumber and has also run his own home improvement company, strongly recommends that homeowners obtain five estimates for any job expected to cost more than $1,000.

Why five estimates? Because experience has taught Woodson that consumers need a range of bids to gain perspective on pricing.

“What you usually want is a contractor in the middle of the pack on price. You can throw away an estimate from anyone who comes in 25 percent or more above or below the others in the pack. The guy at the top is charging too much, and the one at the bottom is probably cutting corners,” he says.

-- Make sure the contractors you hire will perform as promised.

After you’ve narrowed the contractors’ field with a comparison of price estimates, you may think your next step is to ask any company you’re considering for references. But Woodson says this is usually a “pointless exercise.”

“You don’t know if that reference is really someone’s brother-in-law or maybe someone else the company hired to say good things about them,” he says.

Also, Woodson says it’s a mistake to rely on photos the contractor has sent you via email.

“How do you know that these pictures show the contractor’s real work? Even if they do, the photos could have been doctored,” Woodson says.

To get a better impression of a contractor’s work, ask to visit homes where the firm is now working or has recently completed jobs.

“Sure, someone from the company has to call clients to get their permission for you to come over. But even so, the company shouldn’t balk at letting you see their work. If they do, you’ve got to wonder what they’re hiding. This is a big red flag,” Woodson says.

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

A retired diplomat in his late 60s was compelled to leave his spacious family home due to an injury. Hence, he and his wife moved to a retirement community and put their three-story colonial up for sale.

Located in a plush neighborhood where available properties are still scarce, the house attracted multiple bidders. It was soon acquired by a married couple of engineers who were anxious to move up to the prestigious community that featured strong schools and a popular dog park.

Fred Meyer, an independent real estate broker and appraiser who sells property near Harvard University, doesn’t know the diplomat in this true story. But he’s not surprised by the tale because an increasing number of owners from the baby boom generation -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- are finally selling their homes, often after a health crisis.

Indeed, Zillow, a Seattle-based firm that tracks housing markets throughout the country, is now predicting a “silver tsunami” as an increasing number of older owners put their properties on the market.

The company estimates that roughly 730,000 U.S. homes owned by those over 60 are now sold annually. But by 2027, that number should increase to between 920,000 and more than a million per year, according to its research.

Would you like to sell your current property in favor of a larger one where your family could thrive? If so, these few pointers could prove helpful:

-- Look for highly motivated sellers.

The owners of upscale homes are no different from any other category of sellers: Some are a lot more driven to sell than others, says Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker-owner and former president of the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

Some owners have no particular timeline pushing them out the door. Such “discretionary sellers” would like to liquidate but are willing to delay their plans in hopes of obtaining a better price later.

Conversely, motivated sellers have well-defined reasons for moving. Besides financial and health issues, there are positive reasons why some boomers seek to sell quickly. For example, the birth of a first grandchild can intensify their desire to move closer to their grown children.

As a move-up buyer, why should you care if the owners of a home you like are in a rush to sell? Because hurried sellers are much more likely to negotiate in earnest.

If you question sellers on their reasons for moving, many will give you or your agent candid answers to polite inquiries.

-- Don’t exclude from consideration homes that have gone “stale.”

On occasion genuinely motivated sellers hold out longer than they should, reducing their overly high list price only after becoming desperate.

“Even in premium neighborhoods, people who overshoot on price and then fail to sell for many months can be forced to drop their price below market value after buyer interest drops off,” Helfant says.

Their problem is that homes that linger too long on the market become stigmatized.

“It can take a while for some otherwise motivated homeowners to realize they’ve been asking way too much. But if you’re willing to wait, you might be rewarded for your patience,” Helfant says.

-- Consider communities where inventory is increasing.

Despite the likelihood of greater availability of property due to more boomer sales, there are still a number of tight markets where sellers continue to rule. As would-be trade-up buyers, you could do well to prioritize areas where For Sale properties are more abundant.

“You’ll do better if there’s a great deal of inventory, which translates to more competition for the sellers,” Helfant says.

-- Stay focused on your ultimate goal.

Among those hoping to take advantage of low mortgage rates to better their housing situation are parents with school-age kids who clamor for sleepovers and a large rec room where they can enjoy time with friends. Many move-up buyers also hanker for such luxury features as large gardens, at-home fitness centers and customized garages to house motorcycles or sports cars.

Striking a favorable financial deal is always a positive for buyers. But for many seeking to move to a larger habitat, acquiring the exact place they want -- whether that be a city loft, a suburban manse or a country estate -- obtaining the home of their dreams can be even more important.

“Remember, when you trade up, you’re buying for lifestyle. You’re looking for that perfect location, that perfect view or that perfect refuge from the world where you can find peace. For that reason, it’s more than just price alone that counts,” Helfant says.

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

In many ways, real estate specialists say it’s both the best and most challenging of times for homebuyers.

“Mortgage rates are now almost unbelievably low, making it inexpensive to finance a home. Jobs are more secure, and people feel richer because their retirement funds are growing,” says Michael Crowley, a real estate broker working with buyers since 1992.

But given tight inventories of available homes in popular markets, he notes many purchasers still find it extremely stressful competing with other would-be owners.

“To win against other contenders, the urge to overpay is still there,” says Crowley, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

The quest to own property is especially intense among potential first-time owners, who represent nearly a third of all home purchasers and were a significant factor pushing up overall sales in October, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

When it comes to shaping an offer for a property you like, Crowley cautions against letting your emotions get the best of you, even if you’re enamored of the property and are competing with rival bidders.

“You can’t always count on appreciation to bail you out if you have to sell and move unexpectedly in two or three years. Remember too, there are high transaction costs involved in selling one house and buying another,” he says.

Crowley recommends that buyers set a ceiling on how high they’ll go and stick to that limit.

“Base your highest potential bid on both recent sales in the same neighborhood and what you can afford. Then put that top number on an index card and carry it in your pocket when you go to your agent’s office to write up any offer or counteroffer,” he says.

Here are a few other tips for buyers:

-- Plan ahead before zeroing in on a neighborhood.

Too many buyers let emotion dominate their decision on where to live, says Michael Knight, a financial adviser affiliated with the Garrett Planning Network.

“Many people pick a neighborhood too quickly,” says Knight, who recommends you compare several areas before making your pick.

“You’ve got to do plenty of research. Have an informal talk with a few knowledgeable real estate agents in any area you’re considering,” he says.

Which neighborhoods are most likely to hold or gain value in the future? Knight says top quality public schools are critical, particularly now that private schools are out of reach financially for many families.

Access to quality public transit is also high on the list.

When talking to real estate agents, ask them to show you the neighborhood’s amenities on a map. Also, ask them to assemble data for you on sales trends in the community -- including the median time it takes to sell a home there.

-- Search for sellers who are motivated to move.

As a would-be buyer, you may feel uncomfortable about seeking out owners who must sell quickly due to the loss of a job or mortgage payments that are too high for their income. But Crowley says you needn’t feel guilty about doing so.

“You could actually be doing the sellers a favor in such a case. Even if you buy at a discount off the current market value, the owners will likely do better selling to you than they would if the bank took away the house and ruined their credit in the process,” he says.

How can you identify highly motivated sellers before the foreclosure process begins? Obviously, your agent can often find them through the Multiple Listing Service. An additional approach is to walk around the neighborhood on a weekend, striking up informal conversations with residents there.

“On a Saturday or Sunday, you will likely encounter residents who are out walking their dogs or taking their kids to the park. If you’re friendly and express your admiration for their area, they’ll likely chat openly with you and tell you neighbors they know who intend to move soon and the reasons why,” Crowley says.

-- Research property values in the area where you wish to live.

Once you’ve chosen a neighborhood where property values are solid and you’ve found your dream home there, you’ll want to carefully assess its true current value before formulating a bid.

“With rumors about a potential recession in the near future, it’s vitally important you obtain a true ‘opinion of value’ to ensure your bid is at the right level,” Crowley says.

To help develop a realistic estimate of the worth of the home you wish to buy, ask your agent to provide you with statistics on properties that have sold in recent weeks -- the fresher the data, the better. Make sure this analysis takes into account any likely “distress sales” that have occurred lately, which often come at a sacrificial price for the sellers.

“Even if we face a recession, it’s unlikely that prices will plummet in coming years. Still, it’s a very good idea to resist overpaying, even if you love the house. Should you have to walk away from one house you like, I guarantee you’ll find another one that’s an equal or better choice. All that it may take is your patience,” Crowley says.

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