Economists looking to 2022 say real estate markets are struggling to find a new balance between the interests of buyers and sellers. It’s unclear if next year’s sellers will retain the overwhelming dominance they’ve enjoyed since the onset of the pandemic sparked a surge in buyer demand.

At the home listing company Realtor.com, economic research manager George Ratiu says a recent increase in listings is providing a measure of hope for beleaguered buyers aiming to finally make a purchase next year.

“The bump in new listings is a welcome development in a market still searching for more balance, and it helps to keep price growth in check,” Ratiu says.

This has been a banner year for real estate sales, due in large part to intensified demand for more spacious properties among renters and trade-up buyers. But economists say a portion of that COVID-era demand has already been spent and won’t carry over into 2022.

“The housing sector’s success will continue. But I don’t expect next year’s performance to exceed this year’s,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor).

One unknown is how remote work opportunities will play out in the future.

“We are only in the first innings of work-from-home options. People have not fully digested the work-from-home flexibility model yet in determining home size and locational choice,” Yun says.

Another factor that could inhibit buyer demand somewhat in 2022 is the expectation that mortgage rates could rise, which could slightly reduce the buying power of income-constrained purchasers.

“With every little pickup in rates, there are fewer people who can afford to buy,” says Kaki Lybbert, a Century 21 real estate broker and NAR vice president-elect.

She cautions those planning to sell a property in 2022 to avoid hubris.

“You should be confident but not arrogant, which is never a good idea. As a seller, you’ll still be in that catbird seat. You’ll probably get multiple offers, but fewer of them than you would have received this year,” Lybbert says.

Here are a few pointers for those determined to sell next year:

-- Avoid the mistake of overpricing.

Lybbert tells the true story of one couple who insisted on listing their 3,500-square-foot property for $100,000 above its fair market value. Because of the property's location in a hot neighborhood, the owners hoped their over-market pricing plan would yield them more at the closing table. It hasn't worked out.

“That place has been on the market for 125 days, and it has yet to sell,” Lybbert says.

She says owners planning to sell next year can reasonably anticipate receiving offers at list price or above. But setting an over-market list price can backfire.

“When it comes to home values, buyers aren’t stupid,” Lybbert says.

-- Rule out financially unqualified would-be purchasers.

Sharp sellers are careful to check the financial standing of would-be purchasers.

“Who wants a deal to fall through because the buyers lack the wherewithal or credit to get it to the finish line? That’s folly,” says Eric Tyson, a personal finance expert and co-author of “House Selling for Dummies.”

Before accepting an offer, sellers should insist on seeing a genuine preapproval letter from a known lender, Tyson says. This should establish that the prospective buyers have had their credit checked, their employment confirmed and their assets verified.

In addition, prospects can be asked to supply other details about their creditworthiness, such as their credit scores. The most common of these, known as FICO scores, range from 300 to 850. The higher that number, the more likely are borrowers to get the loan they need to close the deal.

“To avoid sleepless nights, look for buyers with FICO scores of 700 or above,” Tyson says.

Bidders can obtain reports on their credit scores from the Fair Isaac Corp (myfico.com).

-- Foresee issues that could emerge during an inspection of your home.

For many months, buyers in competitive markets have been willing to waive their right to a pre-closing home inspection. But as conditions normalize in 2022, more purchasers will likely exercise their right to a home inspection.

Owners should never try to talk buyers out of a home inspection. But smart sellers may wish to consider paying for their own inspection even before the property goes on the market.

“Knowing the problems that lurk in your house is especially important if the place is more than 10 years old,” Tyson says.

-- Attempt to avoid troublesome buyers.

Not all home sellers can be choosy about the offer they select. But if you’re reasonably certain you’ll have more than one bid from which to pick, Tyson says you should seek to avoid cutting a deal with difficult people.

You may not have any direct dealings with your prospective bidders. But your listing agent or others might observe them when they visit your place. And their behavior can be very telling.

One telltale sign of difficult people is that they often make negative remarks when visiting a property. Though you’re likely to not be present for showings, your listing agent should learn of these unpleasant comments and pass them on to you.

By avoiding such prospects, you could spare yourself a lot of grief.

“If you’re lucky enough to get multiple bids, you can be pickier about the buyers you choose. If possible, resist troublesome folks who might nickel-and-dime you all the way to closing,” Tyson says.

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

Obviously, it’s not nearly as bad as post-traumatic stress from a combat experience or a shocking medical diagnosis -- but homebuyers who’ve lost out in multiple bidding wars can still suffer significant bouts of anxiety.

“People who put in strong offers yet get rejected anyway feel shellshocked and pretty exhausted,” says veteran real estate agent Stacy Berman.

“Some renters who lose out in bidding wars become dispirited and simply surrender to signing another year’s lease, despite a big jump in their rent,” says Art Godi, the broker-owner of an independent realty firm.

But Godi, a past president of the National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor), says that for truly motivated buyers, retreating from the real estate market is often a self-defeating strategy, given that home prices are continuing to rise.

“Maybe you’re not priced out of the market yet, but that could happen in the future, considering current trends,” Godi says.

Even so, Berman says those feeling dejected in the aftermath of losing out in 2021 bidding wars can benefit from taking a brief break from the competition.

“Don’t go house-hunting again for another week or two, but then get back at it with an open mind and a fresh approach,” she says.

While on their brief break, Godi encourages buyers to reflect on some of the emotional barriers that could be preventing them from full participation in the market.

“Regrettably, some buyers take it way too personally when other bidders beat them out. They feel diminished and have to address their underlying fears before moving on toward their buying goal,” he says.

The fear of losing out to other bidders is just one worry that afflicts homebuyers. Here are a few other common fears, with pointers on how to address them:

-- Fear of embarrassment about your credit history.

“Going to the lender’s office for preapproval can be a big breakthrough. People are often pleasantly surprised by what the lender tells them,” Godi says.

Of course, many prospective homeowners have flaws on their credit reports that must be fixed before mortgage approval is possible. Still, as Godi says, mortgage brokers and lenders often prove much more supportive than loan applicants anticipate.

“Call it jaded, but mortgage lenders have seen it all when it comes to credit reports. They aren’t going to be shocked or surprised no matter what your credit history reveals,” he says.

Most mortgage lenders rely on commissions and don’t get paid unless their clients get approved. This gives them a strong incentive to take the time and effort required to help rectify their clients’ problems.

-- Fear of selecting a property without the support of family.

Many would-be first-time buyers are in their 20s or 30s. On financial matters, they still look to their elders for direction and, not infrequently, for cash subsidies as well.

“I can’t tell you how many times buyers crave the support of wise family members when it comes to buying their first home. It’s a new experience that can feel exciting yet incredibly scary,” says Merrill Ottwein, a Coldwell Banker broker.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with seeking help from relatives. But Ottwein says you should request their involvement early on, not when you’re about to sign the papers to buy a place.

“Your family could be caught off-guard by a late-stage request for guidance. They might be needlessly negative and counsel you against a particular purchase in an attempt to shield you from an error,” says Ottwein, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

If you’re afraid to go forward without your relatives’ guidance, but don’t want them to mess up your plans, he suggests you bring them along on all your house-hunting trips. That way they can compare various alternatives and are likely to give you more objective advice.

-- Fear of coming up short on the funds to close a home deal.

Granted, it can be costly to make a housing change at any stage of your life. But many first-time buyers overestimate their need for cash to go through the transition. They fail to take into account the reality that there are a multitude of low-to-no-down-payment mortgage programs available to them.

Ottwein says first-time buyers are well advised to explore these options as soon as they decide to make a purchase, rather than waiting until their savings accounts are brimming with funds.

“Before you head into a huge savings campaign, call an experienced mortgage lender. It’s possible that you may not need as large a down payment as you imagine,” he says.

-- Fear you will suffer from “buyer’s remorse.”

Given the stakes, many wannabe first-time buyers become highly risk-averse, worrying they’ll select the wrong home.

“For beginners, there’s a strong tendency to over-research the market; to gather more and more facts before making a commitment,” Godi says. “Psychologically, it’s an easier, safer course to keep searching for additional information than to make a decision.”

But waiting for absolute certainty can have its penalties.

“Through the years, I’ve seen many offers by first-time buyers turned down by sellers because they procrastinated on a decision,” Godi says.

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

Many would-be home sellers are torn on timing. Should they put their place on the market by the end of this year or wait until the first quarter of 2022?

“As with the stock market, timing your home sale is a thorny matter. You have to weigh financial factors along with your personal moving plans,” says Sid Davis, author of “A Survival Guide to Selling a Home.”

As the country gradually emerges from COVID-19, planning seems all the more tricky for would-be sellers because many are reinventing their post-pandemic lives and reassembling their family gatherings.

“Especially now, homeowners hate the massive inconvenience of strangers trooping through their property ... They have a huge preference for an after-holiday sale,” says Davis, an independent real estate broker.

However, selling late this year has some positives associated with it, says Fred Meyer, a longtime broker-appraiser who lists homes around Harvard University.

“Mortgage rates are now lingering near unbelievable lows. They could rise steeply in 2022. This could somewhat weaken the sellers’ hand next year,” Meyer says.

But housing economists doubt sellers who postpone until early 2022 will miss the most opportune time to market their home.

At Realtor.com, chief economist Danielle Hale anticipates that the seller’s market will last well into 2022.

“Home prices continue to rise due to a mismatch between supply and demand, stemming from a decade-long shortage of homebuilding,” Hale says.

On rare occasions, a wise listing agent will recommend that sellers briefly defer their year-end sale. But Mark Nash, the author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home, says homeowners with a compelling need to move before the end of the year should resist postponement.

“Remember how costly it is to hold off. The carrying costs for a vacant home include not only mortgage payments but also insurance and utility expenses,” he says.

Even so, those not under time pressure to move this December may wish to wait until January, February or even beyond to market their place. Here are a few pointers for sellers who intend to wait:

-- Seek to find a seasoned listing agent.

No matter where your house is located, it’s crucial to hire a listing agent with an established track record.

“An agent who’s been through at least 10 post-holiday periods should be especially good at identifying the best week and day to put your property on the market,” says Nash.

-- Embark on a cleaning blitz.

Once your New Year’s celebrations are behind you, your first challenge should be to remove any hints of holiday decor.

“Trying to show a property with holiday decor still in place signals to buyers that you’re not really ready to move,” Nash says.

After the decor is gone, Nash urges sellers to go on a cleaning binge, purging the property of all superfluous items and then making the whole place dust- and spot-free.

Sellers lacking a design-trained eye might consider engaging a home stager, a professional who helps reduce and then rearrange sellers’ furnishings for maximum appeal.

Even without a stager, most people can improve their interior through a few simple steps.

“One way to make a room look better is to remove up to half the furniture and then float your sofa and other pieces at an angle away from the walls,” Nash says.

-- Repaint your walls in a lighter tone.

Are you a homeowner who loves bold designer paint colors? That’s fine during your tenure in the property. But once your place is heading for the market, such colors are a poor choice, especially for a wintertime sale.

“I call colors like magenta, mustard and chocolate brown ‘commitment colors.’ ... (T)hey’re a bad idea for wintertime sellers because they make a place look even drearier on cloudy days,” Nash says.

However, when repainting your walls in advance of a sale, you needn’t pick sterile white to lighten and neutralize your look. Good choices include light grays or linenlike tones with just a hint of another pleasing color, such as very pale yellow.

-- Create a festive atmosphere around your wintertime sale.

Clearly, enthusiasm is in shorter supply during January and February than in the weeks leading up to the winter holidays. So it’s often helpful for you and your listing agent to develop a creative marketing strategy for your winter sale.

Nash recalls the true story of an Illinois couple whose listing agent was puzzled about how to attract home shoppers to what he describes as their “blah suburban house” that went up for sale one February.

What finally worked was a “Garden of Eden” theme, in keeping with the fact that the home’s owners were avid gardeners. Though their flowerbeds were buried in snow, the agent asked for photos showing their flowers blooming in summer. These were enlarged to poster size, mounted on tall easels and placed next to windows throughout the property.

The theme "created buzz among neighbors, real estate agents and buyers ... We all loved the break from winter because it was so hopeful, bright and cheerful,” Nash remembers.

Creative marketing won’t make up for an overly high price tag or a rundown property. But it can help entice shoppers -- and their agents -- into visiting a home they might otherwise have ignored.

“The simple goal of creative marketing is to encourage talk about your house and get eyeballs over to see it,” Nash says.

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