America isn’t just full of wannabe first-time homebuyers. It’s also full of owners eager to move to better quarters.

The reasons owners wish to move vary widely. Many young families seek more living space. Meanwhile lots of seniors wish to trade a big family home for one near their grandkids. A third category of owners want a place suited to a different lifestyle.

Take the case of Rich Harty, an independent real estate broker in the field since 2008. Harty and his partner would love to trade their renovated 3,500-square-foot rancher on a half-acre for one with substantially more land.

“We are squeezed on three sides by other houses. We’d have a lot more privacy if we lived on a couple of acres,” Harty says.

But like many potential move-up buyers, Harty and his partner have mixed emotions about moving now, given the realities of the current market. One factor is that mortgage rates have yet to fall despite expectations set by the incoming administration.

“The 30-year mortgage we got during the pandemic is fixed at just 2.6%. We refuse to give that mortgage for one more than double the price,” Harty says

One potential advantage for would-be house traders is that available properties are far more plentiful than during the pandemic, when bidding wars were the norm in many popular areas.

Sabrina Speianu, economic data manager for Realtor.com, the home listing service, reports that in many U.S. neighborhoods, buyers are gradually gaining more leverage, given the rising stock of available properties. But, of course, house traders are also sellers.

Juggling both a home sale and a purchase at the same time can be especially tricky.

“It’s extremely important to sequence your transactions well,” Harty says.

Here are a few pointers for potential home traders:

-- Crunch numbers on the math of moving up.

There are several ways you could take advantage of the current real estate market to find a happier housing situation. One is to move to a more spacious place. Another is to make a “lateral move” to a home roughly the same size, though in a neighborhood that gives you better schools or a shorter commute.

“As trade-up sellers, you should do very well, given the huge demand for starter homes in coveted areas. And on the buy-side, you won’t be facing quite as intense a level of competition as purchasers at lower tiers of the same market,” says Mark Nash, author of “1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home.”

Inertia is one reason many owners are failing to put their properties up for sale. Surprisingly, some continue to procrastinate simply because of the daunting chore of prepping their property. For example, they might be holding back because they can’t seem to face the challenge of sifting through the vast amount of clutter they’ve accumulated in order to make their property presentable for sale.

“If the time is right to trade up and you can afford it, don’t let disorganization cause you to postpone the joy of a happier housing situation,” Nash says.

-- Investigate your home’s true market value.

As always, a few real estate agents might try to flatter you into hiring them by suggesting your property is worth more than it truly is, says Dorcas Helfant, a Coldwell Banker broker-owner and former president of the National Association of Realtors.

“You don’t want a wishful-thinking answer about your home’s value. You want an agent who is tactful but calls it like it is on pricing. That’s because even after discounts, accurately priced homes ultimately go for more than those that are overpriced at the beginning,” Helfant says.

One way to increase the odds of finding a realistic listing agent is to interview at least three prospects before making your selection. Ask each to do a “comparative market analysis” on your property, using recent data from like home sales in your neighborhood as a basis to set the appropriate list price.

“Watch out for any agent who comes in with a proposed list price way above the other agents you’ve surveyed,” she says.

-- Include your career plans into any purchase decision.

Economic forecasters, who are typically even less reliable than meteorologists, differ widely in their views on how long the country’s current economic situation will last.

No matter the economy’s trajectory, real estate specialists caution against buying a trade-up property with the intention of selling it in just a year or two.

“Truth be told, you’ll probably need to hold your new property for at least three to five years to come out ahead. Otherwise, the transaction costs involved in selling, buying and then moving could eat up any potential profits,” Nash says.

On the other hand, if you anticipate holding the trade-up property for a lengthy period, this could be a favorable time to go through with the transaction.

-- Free yourself of unjustified fears that sabotage your housing plans.

Veteran investors often cite an old adage when it comes to making money in any market: Buy low and sell high. Granted, very few homes are now as deeply discounted as they were in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Nevertheless, Nash reminds owners who wish to sell and then trade up that it could be a mistake to delay fulfillment of their plans in hopes of awaiting a utopian situation, such as sharply lower mortgage rates or steeply falling home prices.

“It’s worth remembering that for those with a pent-up desire for better housing, there are psychological costs of deferring your plans indefinitely,” Nash says.

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

A married couple of hotel managers in Reno are extremely motivated to buy their first home. They won’t settle for less than four bedrooms, a three-car garage and a spacious kitchen. Plus, they want an impressive mountain backdrop.

“We’re already in our 40s, and have built up lots of savings for a down payment. We’re ready to move this spring for sure. Still, we refuse to fall for an overpriced house,” the husband says.

Though they’ve never been homeowners in the past, the pair are hardly naive about real estate values.

“In Nevada especially, values remain in turmoil due to the lasting impact of the pandemic, which hurt employment badly. But we want a fair deal on an exceptional place ... without becoming house-poor,” the husband says.

The hotel managers are like many would-be homeowners who’ve been waiting on the sidelines for a lengthy period in hopes of falling mortgage rates. Rates remain higher than they’d like, yet they’re still determined to soon actualize their plans.

Skylar Olsen, chief economist for Zillow, the national realty firm, doesn’t know the hotel managers in this true story. But she says they’re typical of many would-be buyers who’ve resolved to make a purchase next year.

“Buying a home in 2024 was surprisingly competitive, given how high the affordability hurdle became. More inventory should shake loose in 2025, giving buyers a bit more room to breathe,” Olsen says.

The expectation of rising inventory means that buyers should gain more bargaining power in coming months. That’s why it’s more important than ever for purchasers to educate themselves on home values in their local marketplace.

“It’s obvious but worth remembering that smart homebuyers should always look into pricing trends in the neighborhood they’ve chosen,” says Eric Tyson, author of “Personal Finance for Dummies.”

Here are a few pointers for buyers:

-- Never forget that all housing market trends are local.

“To estimate home values properly, you have to go neighborhood-by-neighborhood,” Tyson says.

Indeed, houses could be worth a good bit more in one pocket of a neighborhood than another, due simply to differences in, say, housing styles.

A basic knowledge of property values in the specific section where you plan to buy will allow you to craft an offer linked to the local market, thereby reducing your odds of paying too much.

-- Consider free websites, but as a starting point only.

Several free sites provide information on property values and can prove a valuable resource. One example is Zillow.com. Another is redfin.com, which is offered by the national realty firm bearing its name.

“These sites are a great beginning point. At least they can get you into the right ballpark on price,” Tyson says.

But keep in mind that websites are no substitute for guidance from an astute real estate agent with an in-depth knowledge of the local turf.

-- Look to your agent’s database for clues.

The classic method used by real estate professionals to reach an estimation of value for a property is known as a “Comparative Market Analysis.” This technique is grounded in data on recent sales of similar homes to the one being judged.

“If you’re seeking a property in a community with lots of look-alike houses, these comparisons should be quite straightforward. It’s much tougher if most homes in the area are custom built,” Tyson says.

In any case, your real estate agent should find at least three transactions that are at least roughly comparable. Then the agent should add and subtract value based on differences between the home you like and the others.

Real estate pros are the first to admit that their judgments on the value of any given property are based on more than statistics.

“Anyone telling you that valuing property is a perfect science doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Assigning value is absolutely a judgment call. For instance, a house with great curb appeal and beautiful landscaping could be worth more than a very plain house with the same square footage,” Tyson says.

-- Investigate neighborhood economic trends before you bid.

At a time when real estate markets are relatively volatile, you need to look beyond closed deals to see where values are heading.

“It’s unlikely that home values will rise or fall suddenly in any given neighborhood, the way stock prices fluctuate. But across time, local economic factors can have a huge impact,” Tyson says.

In a town that’s heavily reliant on a single employer, for example, a surge in hiring could significantly impact home prices.

“School quality is especially important to many purchasers. One example could be a neighborhood that’s been redistricted into a top-rated high school. In this case, the redistricting could put extra money in the pocket of sellers,” Tyson says.

-- Factor inventory levels into your analysis.

At present, some highly desirable neighborhoods still have a shortage of available properties. That means demand for housing there is likely outstripping the availability of homes.

Because the supply-demand level has everything to do with your buying power as purchasers, it’s wise to stay abreast of inventory levels throughout your search period.

“Before you close on a purchase, make sure you check and recheck your local inventory numbers,” Tyson says.

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

Before COVID-19 hit the U.S., Stacy Berman, a seasoned real estate agent, worked exclusively from an office in a Maryland suburb. Meanwhile her husband, a trade association director, commuted to downtown DC by subway on a daily basis.

But all that changed abruptly in March 2020 when both spouses started working from home -- competing for space at the dining room table of their two-story colonial house. In addition, their two teenage offspring began taking all their classes via Zoom in a small rec room in their place.

With the pandemic behind them, the teenagers are off to college, and their parents have returned to their respective outside offices. Still, the pandemic left a lasting mark on their lifestyle preferences. More than ever, they still want lots of bedrooms in place.

“Although COVID is no longer a factor in our lives, my husband and I still want our private spaces. In particular, he wanted a private space where he could have his two huge computer monitors. So we converted several additional rooms into bedrooms. At this point, we’re not going back again to scrambling for privacy,” Berman says.

As with many Americans, Berman and her husband’s lifestyle preferences were changed by COVID. Like many homeowners, they’ve discovered multiple uses for bedrooms, what she calls “think spaces.”

“People still want plenty of separate rooms for countless activities. Some people want alone space for emailing or personal finance. Others want to scroll YouTube videos, write fan fiction, do sports gambling or work on their photos or scrapbooks. The possibilities are endless,” Berman says.

Why are more bedrooms such a hot ticket? Those who track homebuyer preferences say one major factor is the current popularity of an old-fashioned idea: the rise of multi-generational living.

“Due largely to high housing costs, we’re seeing many more multi-generational households everywhere in America,” says Eric Tyson, co-author of “Selling Your House for Dummies.”

Here are a few pointers for buyers seeking a property with a high bedroom count:

-- Plan ahead to the future needs of your household.

Maybe you’re expecting your first child in two or three years. In this case, Jon Boyd, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org), says that purchasing a place with a bedroom that could serve as a nursery is a better bet than changing houses after the baby arrives.

“Ideally, you’ll want to hold the house you buy now for a period of at least four or five years before you move again,” Boyd says.

Buyers with teenagers should also be aware that the kids may need housing even beyond their date of graduation from college or another postsecondary education program.

-- Remember that room-sharing can be a viable option for large families.

By the time they reach kindergarten, if not before, most children yearn for a bedroom of their own. Yet if your family is large or you hanker to convert at least one bedroom into a home office, it may not be possible to furnish each child with a private bedroom.

Still, Boyd says buyers needn’t worry if the house they purchase has too few bedrooms to meet their children’s wishes. He sees some benefits to room-sharing, especially for preadolescent children.

“My two daughters shared rooms until they were 12 or so. That way they learned to make compromises and to get along,” Boyd says.

-- Think ahead for a first-floor master suite for an elder parent.

Boyd estimates that at least 20% of all homebuyers “are now talking about an elder parent moving in with them at some point in the future.”

If this is a possibility in your case, he says you should consider buying a one-level, ranch-style home or a place with a first-floor suite, complete with a private bath.

Even if your parents can easily scale the stairs now, they might find it a lot harder later. Having easy access to a bedroom with a full bath can be especially important to those who are elderly or have a disability.

“Because of the aging population, a first-floor master suite can also be a plus for resale,” Boyd says.

-- Be sure that any room counted as a “bedroom” fits the definition.

Given the popularity of properties with plenty of bedrooms, Boyd says it’s not unusual for home sellers to sometimes stretch the definition when counting their bedrooms.

On occasion, for example, some sellers will place an armoire and a bed in a small den or another spare room and then will call it a bedroom. Or they’ll count a sitting room off a master suite as a bedroom. But Boyd says buyers shouldn’t be fooled by these falsely named bedrooms.

“Some people try to pass off a small den or extra bonus room as a bedroom. But if the room lacks a built-in closet and/or a window or door, it’s not really a bedroom. Ditto for any room that can only be entered through another bedroom. Neither one of such rooms could count as a true bedroom when it comes time for you to sell your house,” he says.

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