Buying a home is only going to get harder this spring as hopeful house hunters get thwarted by fewer options and still-high prices

This spring, homebuyer demand is increasing and houses are selling faster. It would seem promising. But buyers won’t have many homes to pick from, which can lead to competition that keeps prices high. Why? Owners are reluctant to sell because they would have to give up locked-in low mortgage rates. Mortgage rates have been declining,…