A young electrical engineer developed an expertise in artificial intelligence while completing his degree at the University of Florida. With that, he landed a well-paying IT job with a small defense contractor in Orlando.

The 24-year-old engineer intends to propose to his fiancee this fall. The engineer is exploring the Orlando housing market. He’s now focused on a one-level stucco rancher with a large, fenced yard. But he’s wary of committing.

“At $419,000, the house feels reasonably priced. Also, it’s in perfect condition. ... But I have a bunch of student loans. Also, how do I know if my new job will last?” he says.

Eric Tyson, a personal finance advisor and author, doesn’t know the engineer in this true story. But he’s not surprised that the man is equivocating about a home purchase at this point in the housing cycle.

“Even, or maybe especially, in buyer’s markets like Orlando, buyers are nervous that home values could slip more. Maybe they don’t personally recall the housing correction of 2008. But some are still scared it could happen again,” Tyson says.

The engineer says he’s likely to go through with the purchase of the stucco house. Yet before he commits, he’s trying to research the Orlando market and major employment trends there in hopes of gaining reassurance that his housing plan is solid.

“Well-informed buyers have the best chance of doing well on a property purchase and not regretting their choice down the road. They’re also generally the best negotiators,” says Tyson, author of “Let’s Get Real About Money!”

Here are a few pointers for those determined to be well-informed buyers:

-- Factor in your personal economy before deciding how much to spend.

Would buying a well-priced home in a strong neighborhood be a good financial bet for your household if your monthly mortgage payments are more than you can afford? Absolutely not, Tyson says.

Despite still-stringent mortgage standards, it remains possible for many buyers to qualify for a larger mortgage than their finances warrant, thereby placing them at risk of a future default. That’s because your lender knows less about your financial obligations and spending habits than you do.

Before committing to any purchase, even to a small home bought at a bargain price, it’s always wise to review your budget and assess your level of employment security. Is your current job at risk? Do you have easily marketable skills that would allow you to quickly get another job if you had to?

“You probably have lots of job stability if you’re a doctor or nurse. For many in the medical field, a lost job is easily replaceable. But the picture is now very different for people in many other fields, like federal government jobs,” Tyson says.

-- Evaluate neighborhood property values before you bid.

Researching relative property values before you put an offer on a home is critically important in the current market environment, says Tom Early, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

“These days, with tariffs and all, the economy is fairly uncertain at the national level. But what matters more are the trends in the immediate neighborhood where you intend to buy. You want to know what’s sold in the last six months or even more recently,” Early says.

But data on comparable sales won’t give you the whole story. These days, you also need numbers to track the direction of the market. Ask your agent to give you data on the median price of a home sold this past month versus the month prior. Also ask for median price comparisons on an annual and yearly basis. These statistics should give you a good feel for the trend.

Use these data when crafting a bid for a property you like. If selling prices have been weak and inventory is abundant, Early says you can be more aggressive with your opening bid -- offering 10% or more off the market value of the property.

“These days, you might encounter a highly motivated seller whose house has been sitting unsold for a long while,” he says.

-- Don’t rush in a buyer’s market.

During the pandemic, buyers were locked in fierce competition over available homes in desirable neighborhoods. Some properties sold just hours after going on the market, and offers were written hurriedly -- perhaps on the hood of a car. It wasn’t uncommon for sellers to receive multiple bids from buyers offering more than the asking price.

Yes, there are still neighborhoods where buyers must compete. But in an increasing number of areas, buyers are in a stronger position than last year.

“In a buyer’s market like we have now in parts of Florida, you can afford to slow down, pick your house cautiously and minimize the risk of overpaying. You can take your time without fear of losing out,” Tyson says.

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

A retired social worker in her early 70s owns a stately English Tudor in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, near the North Shore of Lake Michigan. The property has been the woman’s crown jewel for more than 30 years and the mortgage was paid off two decades ago. Still, she is determined to sell.

“I never married, and I have no children. So my plan is to move to the same retirement community where my sister lives in Iowa. Regrettably I can’t seem to get it together to make my sale happen,” the woman says.

What’s holding her back? She’s accumulated a vast array of possessions, ranging from antique heirlooms to a huge stock of disposable items that include mountains of paper products. And her dressers are crammed with excess clothing.

“I’m a bargain shopper and a one-click happy Amazon shopper,” she says.

Every day in America, around 11,000 residents turn 65. The overwhelming majority of seniors ardently aspire to remain at home and age in place. But there are others, like the social worker, who wish to reinvent themselves in another locale. That typically involves cashing out of a property in which their wealth is tied up.

Some potential sellers are apprehensive about whether market conditions could worsen after what housing analyst Keith Gumbinger calls “a soggy summer” for home sales. That’s why they’re anxious to move forward quickly with presale improvements, says Gumbinger, a vice president at HSH Associates, which tracks mortgage markets across the country.

“Existing home prices may be poised to have somewhat larger and more widespread seasonal price declines this year,” he says.

One of the biggest barriers to a successful housing sale often involves the clearing of excess clutter, says Vicki Norris, author of “Reclaim Your Life ... and Get Organized for Good.”

Norris, who was a real estate agent before starting her own organizing firm, says the ease of buying online has exacerbated the problem, particularly for retirement-age people.

Ownership of too many belongings isn’t only an emotional burden; it’s also a problem for those who need to make their place appealing to buyers to achieve a successful sale, says Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker and co-owner of several Coldwell Banker realty offices.

“Nowadays, buyers want to start fresh in a house that’s free and clear. They can’t picture themselves living in a place jammed with other people’s stuff,” says Helfant, a past president of the National Association of Realtors.

Before embarking on the huge task of getting their property ready for market, she urges sellers to create a timeline and a checklist.

“There’s a lot of emotional turmoil with any move. But you’ll be much better off if you take a strategic, step-by-step approach rather than a disorganized one,” Helfant says.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Outfit yourself with the right gear for the work.

Norris says an efficient decluttering and packing program shouldn’t require a lot of expensive equipment.

“Never buy a bunch of those big plastic bins unless you’re absolutely sure you’ll really use them in your new place,” she says.

In most cases, cardboard boxes should suffice for your move. Ideally, these should be boxes of uniform size, like the bankers boxes sold at office supply stores, that will stack neatly.

After prepacking the items you’re determined to take to your next property, place these in your garage or a guest bedroom not currently in use. If possible, Norris urges you to avoid renting a paid storage unit, which can gradually become very expensive.

-- Take a room-by-room approach.

Norris says it’s unnerving to approach a decluttering project in an unfocused way, working on several fronts simultaneously. Instead, she advises you to tackle just one room at a time, beginning in the areas of the house that will receive the most scrutiny from prospective buyers. These include your entryway, living room, dining room, family room and kitchen.

“Going from room to room without a disciplined approach can make you feel frantic and will accomplish little,” she says.

-- Allocate extra time to clear through your kitchen.

As real estate agents observe, most home shoppers won’t routinely look inside a chest of drawers and examine your clothes. But many will open kitchen cabinets and are very critical of countertop clutter.

“Give the kitchen top priority. Remove all that surface clutter from your countertops. No one wants to see that toaster or blender on your counter space,” Norris says.

You won’t want to remove basic kitchen items -- plates, pots, pans and utensils -- until right before you move. But much earlier, you can pack away seasonal and special-use items such as turkey pans.

-- Recognize that purging can prove liberating once it’s done.

Few enjoy the arduous chore of sifting through years’ worth of accumulations. This project can be especially unpleasant if you must move against your will for whatever reason.

But Norris says many who complete the process discover, much to their surprise, that they feel happier when they’re less encumbered with excess belongings.

“It’s an unexpected chance to lighten up and start over,” she says.

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

A 42-year-old flight attendant has loved living in San Antonio since she bought a house and moved there in 2021. She relishes the city’s renowned River Walk, its lush gardens and its open-air markets. But she’s changing airlines and must move to accommodate her new position.

Unfortunately, the Spanish-style house she bought during the pandemic has slipped in value, and she’s baffled about how to adapt to the changing market without selling at a loss.

“This house has been my baby for several years. I redid the kitchen with quartz countertops, porcelain flooring and all-new appliances. I leveled my lot to create classier gardens. But nothing has worked to move my property, not even the $7,000 incentive I’m offering to help a buyer with closing costs,” she says.

So disheartened is this flight attendant that she’s now considering delisting her place and converting it to a rental.

“I’ve had my house on the market for 172 days, with no serious offers,” she says.

Asad Khan, a senior economist for Redfin, the national realty brokerage, doesn’t know the flight attendant in this true story. But he understands her frustration about selling in a formerly overheated area like San Antonio.

“Homebuyers are spooked by high home prices, high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, and now sellers are spooked because buyers are spooked. Some sellers are delisting their homes or choosing not to list at all after seeing other houses sit on the market for weeks or months,” Khan says.

“It’s a true buyer’s market in San Antonio. Buyers are patient, selective, value conscious and aware of their increased negotiating power. When they make offers, they ask for the moon,” says San Antonio-based Redfin agent Jesse Landin.

Longtime listing agents advise disillusioned home sellers in slow markets to adapt their selling strategy rather than delist. Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Consider hiring a professional home stager.

Staging is the art of transforming a property so potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. Properly done, staging accentuates a home’s attractive features and minimizes its drawbacks.

Many real estate agents are convinced that hiring a talented stager can increase the odds of selling a property promptly. Working under a full-service contract, most stagers will provide an array of services. They remove excess furniture and personal items and rearrange the remaining pieces. Often, they also supplement the owners’ furnishings with eye-catching accessories of their own.

Regrettably, the cost of hiring a professional stager for a full menu of services for an average-sized home can run at least $700 or more, says Michelle Minch, the owner of a staging company called Moving Mountains Design. But Minch says cash-constrained sellers don’t necessarily need the full range of services available through a stager. For a much lower price, perhaps around $200, they can obtain an abbreviated consultation and receive pointers they can execute themselves.

“Tell the stager you just want the 10 top tips for making your house look better. For just an hour or two of consultation time, a good stager can tell you about furniture arrangement and also recommend mild, pleasing paint colors for your walls. You’ll get a roadmap for making your house move-in ready,” she says.

How can you find a competent stager who will work on an “a la carte” basis? Minch suggests you visit the website of the Real Estate Staging Association (realestatestagingassociation.com). Look for stagers in your area and be sure to review their websites for examples of their work before you contact them.

-- Considering holding a home-selling fest with friends.

Sometimes the owners of a property that’s lingered on the market will pressure their listing agents to conduct several public open houses. They hope to increase their odds of selling promptly.

But Lisa Atkinson, a Florida-based real estate agent, says traditional open houses rarely lead to a sale. That’s because these events typically attract few qualified home-buying prospects and are more likely to draw curiosity seekers. Most serious buyers see homes on an appointment basis, during a tour led by their agent.

“Occasionally you’ll get nosy neighbors who happen to mention your property to someone they know who’s in the market. But in my experience, that’s extremely uncommon,” says Atkinson, who’s affiliated with the Residential Real Estate Council (crs.com).

A better way to ignite renewed interest in your place is to throw a home-selling party, inviting your close friends and relatives. Such a party is more likely to lead ultimately to a sale. That’s because those close to you will be more motivated to promote the sale of your home than are strangers.

“In any case, the party can help revive your excitement about your home-selling goal,” Atkinson says.

-- Use flowers and greenery to your advantage.

It’s nice to have fresh-cut flowers on display throughout your home’s interior. But if average market times in your community are quite long, the cost of keeping fresh flowers in your home can mount up.

One less expensive alternative is to display flowering, potted plants indoors and to install blooms in your outdoor gardens, particularly around the front of your house.

The color of bountiful, blooming plants is a great way to make any home more attractive, Minch says.

“When you put your house on the market, you’re entering into a beauty contest. Price is terribly important. But beyond price, prettier is always better,” she says.

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