If there were ever a time when paying close attention to the details could spell the difference between success and failure, this is it. If you are a seller, you need an agent on your side who is familiar with the ins and outs of the market to a degree that affords you the most potential advantage. This is a time when careful preparation can pay big dividends in terms of locating potential buyers and placing them in touch with desirable and affordable properties. An experienced agent also knows how to make financial accommodations that bring deals to fruition that may otherwise languish.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Housing Policy shows that the number of low to moderate income renters who pay more than half of their income for housing has doubled. Between the years 1997 and 2005, the number of renters using more than half their income for housing costs increases from 1 million to 2.1 million. During that same time period,the number of homeowners who paid more than half their income for housing increased only 75 percent (from 1.4 million to 2.4 million).

If you are a seller in a buyer’s market, the most important single step you can take to sell your home is to set the right price. Pricing has always been essential to selling a home, and competition from other sellers should encourage you to price your home aggressively. Beyond that and making your home physically appealing, sellers can also help themselves by offering incentives to buyers. For instance, sellers may offer to pay buyers’ moving expenses or one month’s mortgage payment. Sellers may also sweeten the pot by agreeing to make a contribution toward closing costs.

Many people buy homes, partly or wholly, on the basis of the view that they afford of the surrounding landscape. If you are about to make a purchase of property with a “million-dollar view,”you might want to take steps to assure yourself that this important feature will be preserved. With this in mind, have your agent ask the present owner or the city zoning and planning office if the property is protected by a view ordinance. In addition, your agent can find out if neighbors are subject to restrictions that would protect your view.