Is the Starter Home Dead?
Summary
Many Americans believe starter homes—smaller, more affordable houses for first-time buyers—are disappearing. Rising home prices and low supply have made it harder for people to buy their first home, pushing the median age of first-time buyers to an all-time high.Key Facts
- A survey found 61% of U.S. adults think starter homes are mostly gone.
- The median age of first-time homebuyers is now 40 years old, a historic high.
- First-time buyers make up only 21% of the housing market, the lowest share ever.
- The median price of a typical U.S. home in March 2026 was about $436,500, up from $295,100 in 2019.
- Starter homes usually cost less, about $195,388 nationally by the end of 2025, but their prices are rising faster than other homes.
- Smaller homes with two or fewer bedrooms saw price increases of over 77% from 2019 to 2026.
- In 233 U.S. cities, the typical starter home costs at least $1 million, five times the national average.
- New homes are generally getting larger, with very few new homes under 1,400 square feet being built.
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