Tag Archives: Starter Homes

How many years' worth of income do homebuyers across the globe need to afford a starter home? A new article revealed the amount required and in which countries beginning homes are affordable to buy—and where they're not.

Home prices reached a new peak for the eighth consecutive month in November, according to First American's latest Home Price Index report, which revealed that price appreciation for small, affordable homes for first-time buyers remained strong, with starter home prices growing the fastest in many U.S. markets.

A new All Star Home study revealed that 1 in 5 homeowners regret relocating, citing unexpected home costs as their top reason, while more than 20% of Americans said they regret how much they paid for their home.

According to Realtor.com's August 2023 Rental Report, buying a starter home in the top 50 metros cost approximately 60.3% more than renting, while median U.S. rents experienced their fourth consecutive month of year-over-year declines.

Researchers from Point2 reveal that even in non-core, secondary, cities, affordable first homes are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

“Buyers searching for starter homes in today’s market are on a wild goose chase because in many parts of the country, there’s no such thing as a starter home anymore,” said Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari.

A lack of affordable homes has created millions of “missing households” which are keeping families in shared homes or the rental market.

Entry-level home shoppers are most likely to face bidding wars this spring, as prices rose by 8% annually for the least expensive one-third of houses, while more expensive homes lost value for the first time in more than a decade.

As homebuyers' perception of the economy and affordability continue to worsen, nearly 40% of Americans planning to buy their first home in 2023 revealed now is a good time to buy, as many continue to search for homes and save for downpayments.

While mortgage rates are discouraging buyers' homeownership goals, quickly rising interest rates continue to hamper renters’ already limited buying power in the nation’s most expensive markets.