Conditions are easing somewhat this spring for home shoppers, real estate experts say. Price increases are slowing. There are more properties for sale. And mortgage rates are low.

“Home buyers are probably going to feel the first signs of relief” in years, said Ralph McLaughlin, deputy chief economist at property data firm CoreLogic.

Home prices are still rising nationally, but at a less robust pace. The median home price in April was about $267,000, up 3.6 percent from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. In April 2018, prices had risen by more than 5 percent from a year earlier.

In April, sales of previously owned homes were down more than 4 percent from a year ago, the association found. The numbers reflect closed sales of single-family homes, town homes, condominiums and co-ops.

As always, however, much depends on what kind of house you are seeking and where you are shopping.

At this time last year, many housing markets were in a “frenzy,” with multiple buyers competing for properties, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the realtors’ association. But the inventory of homes for sale has notched upward this spring, tilting the balance of power away from sellers, especially for higher-priced homes.

“The upper end of the market is very soft,” Mr. Yun said, and buyers of those properties have better advantage over sellers. Sales of homes over $750,000, in particular, are probably affected by changes in federal tax laws that limited deductions for state and local taxes, making buyers wary of pricey homes with high property taxes, Mr. Yun said.

But buyers looking for lower-priced starter homes — those at $200,000 or below — might find that things have not changed much in some markets, said Danielle Hale, chief economist at the home listing site Realtor.com. The inventory of homes in lower price ranges has fallen by about 8 percent compared with last year, based on the site’s listings.

Builders have found it challenging to construct new homes profitably at lower price points because of rising prices for land and lumber, and the need to pay higher wages in a labor market that is short on skilled workers, Mr. Yun said. At the same time, more older people are staying in their homes longer, contributing to a squeeze in affordable properties for entry-level or trade-up buyers to consider.

In Rochester, for example, where the average list price of a house is $212,000, supply remains tight and multiple offers are still the norm, said Chip Murphy, regional vice president with Hunt Real Estate. The city’s downtown has seen a revitalization, with new restaurants and shops, and medical employment is strong in the area, which boasts numerous colleges and universities. “For first-time buyers, there’s inventory they can afford,” Mr. Murphy said. “But many listings can get 20 offers or more.” Typically, he said, buyers who are able to pay cash win the contest.

Similarly, in Kansas City, Mo., sellers still generally have the upper hand, said Bobbi Howe, an agent with Keller Williams Kansas City North. Buyers may need to be flexible and accommodate the seller’s needs, she said, such as offering an extended closing date or extra time to move out of the house.

Entry-level home shoppers who are financing their purchase should obtain prequalification from a lender, Ms. Hale said, and should be prepared mentally for a longer search that will probably involve some rejected offers. “It requires a lot of persistence,” she said.

Here are some questions and answers about home buying:

How much of a down payment is required to buy a home these days?

The old rule of 10 to 20 percent down is no longer ironclad. Both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the quasi-governmental mortgage finance companies that back most home loans in the United States, have been offering programs requiring just 3 percent down for several years. In the first three months of this year, 80 percent of first-time home buyers used some form of mortgage with a low down payment, according to a report from Genworth Mortgage Insurance.

A larger down payment still offers advantages, though — such as avoiding the need for private mortgage insurance, which will increase monthly payments.

Can I use a gift from a family member as a down payment?

Yes. Nearly a quarter of borrowers use funds from friends or family to help finance a home loan, according to Freddie Mac. You should, however, document that the money is truly a gift, rather than a loan; lenders provide a formal gift letter that the donor can sign. “Generally, lenders frown on a loan for a down payment,” said David Zuckerman, a certified financial planner and a spokesman for the CFP Board, which sets professional standards for planners.

What are current mortgage rates?

The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.99 percent, the first time it has fallen below 4 percent since January 2018, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey released on Thursday. A year ago, the average rate was 4.56 percent. The lower rates should give a boost to the housing market, the company’s chief economist said.

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