A 39-year-old Ohio accountant was recently startled to realize she’d already spent a full decade striving to buy a first home, but to no avail. Still, she remains hopeful this will be the year to finally close a deal.

“It’s gotta happen before I hit 40, or I’ll get really demoralized,” says the accountant, who often stays up to the predawn hours pondering the pros and cons of homes she spots on internet listings.

For the accountant, like millions of other wannabe first-time homebuyers, housing affordability is of paramount concern.

“Prices aren’t coming down fast enough for the kind of place I want in the Columbus area. Because I am cash-short, I gotta find a house that doesn’t penalize me with high upkeep costs and utility bills,” she says.

A brand-new house in the Columbus neighborhood of Brandywine recently caught the accountant’s eye. Listed at $599,000, the prairie-style property is at the top of her price range. But with promised down-payment help from her parents, the purchase seems plausible.

Despite an improving mortgage rate picture, major affordability challenges remain front of mind for would-be first-time homeowners, according to Jessica Lautz, an economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

“The historically low share of first-time buyers underscores the real-world consequences of a housing market starved for affordable inventory. The implications for the housing market are staggering,” Lautz says.

Indeed, the high cost of housing has pushed up the typical age for purchase of a first home in the United States to 40, with many implications for the economy as a whole, according to Shannon McGahn, an executive vice president at NAR.

“Delayed or denied homeownership until age 40 instead of 30 can mean losing roughly $150,000 in equity on a typical starter home,” McGahn says.

A low-maintenance property is now the dream for an increasing number of home purchasers.

“Up to 80% of today’s buyers prefer a place that’s under five years old because of upkeep concerns,” estimates Tom Early, who owns an independent realty brokerage in the Columbus area.

Though some first-time purchasers are still willing to accept the demands of a fixer-upper, many other young adults are absolutely against buying a house that takes a lot of their time and energy.

Here are a few pointers for novice homebuyers looking for a low-upkeep house:

-- Consider a one-level home for easier cleaning.

Dorcas Helfant, co-owner of several Coldwell Banker realty offices in Virginia, notes that demand for single-story houses is swelling, particularly among older people who have trouble climbing stairs or expect to face that limitation in coming years.

“Demand equals accelerated appreciation in future years,” Helfant says.

But beyond their investment potential, one-story properties offer advantages in terms of routine upkeep.

“One-level houses are a lot easier to keep clean. You don’t need to haul the vacuum up and down the stairs,” Helfant says.

-- Look for a property owned by a perfectionist.

Are you planning to purchase a home where you’ll live for just three to five years? If so, buying a home owned by maintenance-minded people could let you coast on their upkeep for a few years. Their place will probably be in good repair, including all the appliances.

“A ‘house freak’ is someone who doesn’t let things go, like a tiny window crack or a stair railing that’s a little wobbly,” Early says.

Those who baby their homes are usually also meticulous about pruning their trees and manicuring their flowerbeds. Still, Early warns against thinking you could coast for several years on the prior owner’s conscientious yard work.

“Well-kept grounds require near constant attention, either by you or people you take the trouble to hire,” he says.

-- Incorporate brand-new houses in your search.

Not all new developments are created equal. Some new homes will give you years of maintenance-free living while others could mean headaches from the outset.

“There’s a price for quality. So, you may have to pay more for solid construction,” Early says.

A dedicated real estate agent should be familiar with both new home and resale options in the area where you’re looking.

Early believes that builders who add custom features to the homes they construct usually give buyers a better product than do those who mass-produce houses cookie-cutter style.

How can you find a builder with a quality edge?

“It’s always wise to poll the people who have already moved into properties in a new subdivision. Ask them if they’re OK with the builder’s work,” Helfant says.

Home inspectors are another good source of information.

“A reputable home inspector will know who’s building solid homes versus shoddy ones,” he says.

-- Consider a “nearly new” home if a brand-new one is unavailable.

According to Early, those who buy brand new homes typically enjoy 10 or more years of freedom from worry about the failure of major systems -- including the plumbing, electrical, cooling and heating systems.

But if you’ve chosen a neighborhood lacking brand-new subdivisions, he says your second-best choice is a place that’s under five years of age.

“Nobody can give you a guarantee that a ‘nearly new’ house will spare you big upkeep issues, even in the early years. But it sure improves your odds,” Early says.

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

A nurse practitioner in Las Vegas was thrilled to purchase a newly constructed luxury condo in 2018. Among the amenities of her gated complex are tennis courts and a resort-style gym.

But Las Vegas housing didn’t fare well during the pandemic, and properties in many Vegas neighborhoods, including where the nurse lives, have declined in value. Hence, she’s planning to sell before she moves back to Sacramento, where her parents live.

Michael J. Connerly, the author of “How to Win With Real Estate,” says that although condos are generally more affordable than detached houses, most buyers strongly favor traditional properties with yards. And that preference was strengthened during the pandemic.

He says buyers are especially resistant to the purchase of look-alike properties in large condo complexes -- like a number built in Nevada in recent years.

Connerly doesn’t know the nurse in this true story. But he’s not surprised she’s finding it challenging to sell her property in a large complex where many of the units are very similar in terms of size and floor plans.

Are you trying to sell a “look-alike” condo? If so, Connerly says it’s wise to make sure your listing agent differentiates your unit from the others based on its positive attributes.

“Your condo should be more appealing than others if it’s on an upper floor with less noise or a nicer view. Also, highlight the distinction if it has a balcony or is a corner unit, which means it has two outside walls rather than one,” he says.

Condo sellers who face stiff competition must think strategically, as should their listing agents. Here are a few pointers:

-- Ensure that you price with cash-tight buyers in mind.

Those seeking to sell a condo in an area where many new units have been built recently need to be especially careful not to set too high a price, or their property could sit unsold for a lengthy time, says Mark Nash, author of “1001 Tips for Buying & Selling a Home.”

Those planning to sell in a complex where many condos are on the market should do a careful review of what other units, known as “comparables” or “comps,” have sold for during the last three to six months.

“For pricing, it’s foolish to rely on anything but apple-to-apple comparisons. Your goal is to ascertain true market value rather than trying to justify a bloated price,” Nash says.

Suppose, for example, that you’re the owner of a condo that overlooks a car dealership. If so, don’t try to price as if your unit is worth as much as another one in the same complex that overlooks a beautiful garden.

“As I’ve always told sellers, walk in the buyers’ shoes. They’re the ones who ultimately decide what your condo is worth,” Nash says.

-- Heighten awareness of your unit with local real estate pros.

Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker-owner and former president of the National Association of Realtors, recommends you ask your listing agent to hold one or more brokers’ open houses at your place. These are open houses to which all real estate agents in the area are invited. As a magnet, such events often feature food, entertainment or both.

“The reality is that most serious buyers work with real estate agents. And the agents have a great deal of influence over which properties a client visits. Agents who’ve had the chance to preview a place, and come away impressed, are more likely to take their clients by to see it,” Helfant says.

“Brokers’ opens” can be especially valuable to the seller of a condo in a building with a large number of clonelike units for sale.

“In a building like that, you have to compete for attention,” Helfant says.

-- Add luster to your listing with upgrades.

Connerly says it’s usually worth it to spend a few thousand dollars on presale upgrades if you’re competing with many other sellers with similar units.

“The biggest bang for your buck is always paint, which makes any place look sharp. But there are also some other fairly inexpensive steps that can be especially helpful in a competitive market,” he says.

For example, many condo buyers are impressed with kitchen upgrades, including quartz countertops, which have come down in price in recent years, as well as hardwood cabinets.

“Just replacing your cabinet fronts alone can make an old kitchen look stunning. But to make the room seem larger, avoid dark wood in favor of oak or ash,” Connerly says.

-- Market your condo heavily to young buyers.

“If your condo is located in a moderately priced building in a popular area, it should appeal strongly to young buyers eager to shed their landlord,” Nash says.

Besides the usual print and online advertising materials, Nash recommends that your listing agent develop community “resource lists” with your target audience in mind.

“For instance, young professionals new to your area could value a lengthy list of nearby restaurants, clubs, gyms, movie theaters and grocery stores, along with ratings and reviews,” he says.

-- Stay away from tangible incentives.

During steep downturns in real estate sales, some sellers have offered “tangible incentives,” such as a free large-screen TV or iPad, in hopes of beating other sellers in the same building.

But Connerly cautions that such offers can draw the wrong type of buyers.

“Tangible rewards make you look desperate and therefore usually attract lowballers rather than serious bidders. So it’s better to spend your money on upgrades,” he says.

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

A married pair of high school math teachers in Jacksonville, Florida, are hyper-focused on buying their first home. At 31, they’re ready to settle down and start a family. For two austere years, they’ve been patiently amassing savings for a down payment.

“We figure now is the absolute best time to buy,” the wife says.

Their savings drive has involved many personal sacrifices. The couple stopped going out to eat, cut back on Starbucks, nixed expensive wedding and vacation plans and stopped buying new clothes. Every dime has gone into their savings fund and been tracked on a chart attached to the refrigerator of their rented apartment.

Just days ago, they submitted a successful bid to buy a solid brick house with four bedrooms and a new roof and AC system. The place had gone through several price cuts and had been sitting vacant for 109 days.

“This house was built in 1960, and we were nervous (about) why it hadn’t sold. But our home inspector cleared it through an in-depth evaluation. He also confirmed that property taxes on the place are low and that it has zero HOA fees,” the husband notes.

The buyers believe they bought at an opportune time in Florida, and analysts who track U.S. housing markets agree.

In several formerly overheated markets, including the Jacksonville area, the supply of unsold homes is expanding, and there are bargains to be had this fall. Given the competition, many sellers are now more willing to bargain.

“Inventory levels tend to peak in early fall,” say Danielle Hale, an economist, and Hannah Jones, a data analyst, at Realtor.com, the home listing service. “The uptick could be even more significant this year, as seasonal inventory growth outpaces previous years.”

Unfortunately, many would-be buyers aren’t as prepared for their first purchase as are the math teachers, says Michael Crowley, an Oregon real estate broker who specializes in assisting purchasers.

“You have to lay the groundwork, and that can take a number of months unless you’re wealthy or your parents kick in with the upfront costs,” says Crowley, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Here are a few pointers for buyers:

-- Seek highly motivated sellers.

Although some neighborhoods still have a dearth of unsold homes, markets are dynamic, and more sellers are open to negotiating. As Crowley says, one key to finding a good deal is to search for owners who are exceptionally motivated.

One way of identifying motivated sellers is to examine statistics. Ask your real estate agent to determine the average days on market, from list to sale, for properties in the area where you wish to live. Then look for homes in your price range that have sat unsold for a longer-than-average period.

Before crafting an offer, also consider another set of numbers: the average list-to-sale price differential. If you note that most properties have recently fetched 95% of their list price, you might consider a first bid at a 5% discount off what’s being asked.

-- Don’t attempt to negotiate through put-downs.

Sid Davis, author of “A Survival Guide for Buying a Home,” says some purchasers attempt to strengthen their bargaining position by writing a letter that highlights minor flaws with a property or by noting the owners’ poor taste. For example, they might mention that the bright yellow shower curtain is “incredibly ugly.”

Should you take this approach? Absolutely not, Davis says.

“Remember that the vast majority of homeowners take comments about their property personally. That’s true even if they’re trying to move because of dissatisfaction with their property,” Davis says.

This isn’t to say that you and your home inspector shouldn’t be forthright in itemizing corrections needed to bring the property up to standard, such as repairs to the roof or the replacement of a malfunctioning water heater. But do so in a manner that doesn’t offend the owners.

“Practice the art of being forthright without being disagreeable,” Davis says.

-- Kick-off your quest for a first home at a friendly lender’s office.

Eric Tyson, co-author of “Home Buying Kit for Dummies,” says that ever since the Great Recession, mortgage lenders have remained stringent in their requirements of borrowers. That means all home loan applicants continue to face significant scrutiny.

“Count on your lender looking closely at your credit history and asking lots of questions about your income and assets. This is particularly likely if you’re self-employed or work on commission,” Tyson says.

By seeing a mortgage lender early, you have time to get mortgage preapproval, which will give you a realistic sense of how much you can afford. A preapproval letter is also a strong bargaining chip.

“This makes you a lot more credible with your sellers,” Tyson says.

-- Remain confident about your push for homeownership.

Will 2025 represent a decisive shift toward more of a buyer’s market? No one knows for sure. Yet one given is that eventually aging baby boomers will occupy less of the nation’s housing stock, freeing up more inventory for young buyers.

Crowley says buyer confidence remains exceptionally strong among those in the millennial generation with solid jobs.

“With mortgage rates more attractive, more millennials are now settling down and getting married. They’re raring to go with homeownership, and they’re willing to make the sacrifices to accomplish it,” he says.

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