An Idaho couple in their early 30s -- a nurse married to an attorney -- are anxious to sell the tiny two-bedroom rambler they bought before the pandemic. Given their salary increases, they now aspire to own a brand-new place with an upscale kitchen and a larger bedroom for their 6-year-old daughter. They also crave a spacious home office.

“Our place is so small that we call it our ‘mouse house.’ We waited and waited for lower mortgage rates. But we’re waiting no longer. We’re actively looking for our next house, and we want to move on as early as possible. Still, our first step must be to sell our current house,” the nurse says.

Maya Hyman, an agent for the Compass realty brokerage, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But she cautions that in the immediate future, sellers could potentially face more headwinds.

“Right now, the overall market is sluggish,” Hyman says.

One issue is that sellers have relatively less bargaining power than they did during the pandemic, when available listings were exceedingly scarce and housing demand greatly exceeded available supply in many neighborhoods.

Lately, the supply-and-demand balance is gradually shifting toward buyers, given that the number of available listings is steadily increasing, says Jiayi Xu, an economist for Realtor.com, the home listing service. She notes that the inventory of for-sale homes has increased more than 23% since last year.

Lauren Davis, an agent with the Sotheby’s realty company, encourages wannabe sellers to avoid arrogance when they decide on a listing price.

“It can be a good idea to price your place aggressively, maybe even to 10% below its current market value. Because buyers are now very sharp on property values, your house is likely to attract more interest if it is priced realistically, prompting more bidders to come around,” she says.

Here are a few pointers for wintertime home sellers:

-- Don’t discount the winter months for your home sale.

Maybe you regret missing the traditional high point of the home-selling season, which runs from spring through early summer. You might think your house could have yielded you more money then, when more prospects were out looking.

But the factors that most influence markets are less seasonal than in previous years, says Ronald Phipps, a former president of the National Association of Realtors (nar.realtor). A well-priced house in good condition that’s located in a popular community should sell well at any time of the year.

“The date when you sell is less critical than the price and the ratio of supply to demand in your neighborhood,” Phipps says.

No matter when you put your place on the market, he urges you to avoid the most common home-selling pitfall: pricing based on wishful thinking.

“Buyers are more prepared, more informed and more self-disciplined than ever. You can’t fool them into spending more than your house is worth,” says Phipps, who heads a family-owned realty firm in Rhode Island.

Granted, there are fewer would-be buyers looking for property during the winter months. But he says those searching during this period are mostly serious buyers who need to move due to a job change or another compelling reason.

-- Know that your kids will likely adjust well to a midyear school change.

Many parents hold back on selling their home during the winter months because they fear their kids will have a hard time making a midyear switch to a new school.

But William Bainbridge, an academic expert on school choice, says students who make a midyear change often fare better than those who do so in the fall.

One reason is that midyear switchers are typically showered with attention from teachers and classmates. In contrast, those who start a new school in the fall typically receive less academic and social support.

However, he advises the parents of high school students to check in with the new school to make sure their credits will transfer. This is especially important for students taking challenging precollege classes, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

-- Retain your seasonal decor for wintertime home showings.

Real estate agents typically tell home sellers to “neutralize” their properties to make them more appealing to a wide range of buyers. That means repainting boldly colored walls in a light tone and removing personal items like family photos or a collection of bowling trophies.

But Phipps says owners who happen to have showings during the winter holiday season don’t need to take down their seasonal decor before prospective buyers come through.

“Actually, seasonal wreaths and other generic holiday decorations give buyers a warmer, more comforting and embracing feeling when they walk into your house,” he says.

-- Realize there’s room for confidence about near-term home sales.

Given the economic uncertainties related to the new administration in Washington, some would-be home sellers have felt nervous about a near-term sale. But Rafael Corrales, a Miami-based agent for Redfin, says seller optimism is finally warranted.

“The market was stagnant in the months leading up to the election, but within 48 hours of the results being announced, I was getting more home-tour requests. We definitely saw an uptick in demand on the buyside, but less so with listings,” Corrales says.

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

A married couple in their mid-60s own a classic all-stone Georgian house in a desirable suburb of Philadelphia.

The property has skyrocketed in value. But as they contemplate retirement, the pair feel ambivalent about whether to renovate in order to age in place or sell the house.

“This is a big, emotional decision. We’ve been here more than 30 years. To say we love the place is an understatement. The truth is, we really want to stay here for big family gatherings and to take our last breath here,” says the husband.

Yet keeping the house indefinitely has huge downsides. Though the 3,500-square-foot place has five bedrooms and an equal number of bathrooms, all are on the second and third floors. What’s more, the laundry is in the basement.

“Stairs are very problematic for me. I’ve had one knee replacement already and expect to need another one soon,” the husband says.

What would it take to make the house suitable for an elderly couple? At the minimum, they would need a first-floor bedroom with a walk-in shower and grab bars. This first-floor suite could incorporate a washer-dryer combination.

To determine the feasibility of this addition, the couple has already hired an architect, paying him $11,000 for construction-ready plans. The architect estimates that in their high-cost area, the cost of building the 500-square-foot addition would be at least $250,000.

This cost estimate so shocked the couple that they put their expansion plans on hold.

“Meanwhile, we’ve been touring retirement communities. They’re also expensive, but offer the advantage of one-level living with sociability and group activities. Frankly, we don’t know whether to move or improve,” the husband says.

Patrick Harwood, a longtime real estate agent with Compass, a large real estate brokerage, doesn’t know the couple in this true story. But he says there’s no one right answer for owners comparing various post-retirement housing options.

“Some of my clients have renovated their houses only to reverse their plans and move to Florida or Arizona for better weather. Some pick a destination near grandchildren. Others stay put because of the comfort of their current home. Still another segment is weighing an international move,” Harwood says.

Here are a few pointers for those considering post-retirement scenarios:

-- Look for a location that feels right to you for positive reasons.

As they approach retirement, many people focus solely on the annoyances and aggravations they’ll escape once they’re liberated from their job. But others wish to reinvent their lives in an exotic location and should research their options before they move.

“Give yourself permission to explore all the possibilities that interest you before making a decision,” says Lin Schreiber, a certified life coach who specializes in retirement.

-- Think twice before moving to a place with a strong homeowners association.

Schreiber thought she wanted to live in a new custom-home community surrounding a man-made lake. She bought a “dream house” there and assumed she’d stay there for the rest of her life.

But after just three years, she was so rattled by the strong neighborhood association that she sold the property and moved to a less fancy part of town, buying a modest townhouse with friendly and easygoing neighbors.

Looking back on that experience, Schreiber wishes she had investigated further before buying into the lakeside community, where neighborhood leaders proved bothersome and intrusive.

“People there were always quibbling over small disputes about the appearance and operation of the community,” she recalls.

Though she allows that some people appreciate a strict neighborhood association that can help protect their property values, she says others find life in such a community unpleasant.

Schreiber urges those making a major housing transition to ask questions about the internal culture of a community before they buy a home there -- to ensure that it’s in accord with the lifestyle they have in mind.

-- Don’t let grown children make decisions for you.

Lots of seniors approaching retirement have children in their 20s, 30s or older. They vary widely on the role they would like their children to play in the next phase of their life.

Those who want their adult offspring to play a major role in their lives are likely to be happier moving to a property with enough bedrooms to accommodate family during overnight visits. But those who wish to discourage family members from lengthy stays -- or from moving back home -- might prefer a small condo with just one or two bedrooms.

-- Give yourself plenty of purging time before you downsize.

It’s rare for owners who’ve lived in a property for many years to approach retirement without a house full of material possessions, says Eric Tyson, a financial writer and author of “Personal Finance for Dummies.”

The problem is that to successfully sell their property and fit into a smaller place, nearly everyone must cull through their possession, reducing the overall quantity. This is a process that can take weeks -- or even months -- to accomplish.

“Trying to let go of a house jammed with too much furniture and knickknacks is the kiss of doom for people who want to maximize the proceeds from a house they’re selling,” Tyson says.

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

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.)