For many Americans, the dream of owning a home begins with a starter home, but these options have felt increasingly scarce. Rising prices have priced out many would-be buyers, and climbing mortgage rates have compounded the challenge. Recent findings from Realtor.com® economists support this observation.
According to their research, the national starter home share of active inventory fell from 38.1% in August 2019 to 36.2% in August 2026. Furthermore, starter home prices rose 30.8% during the same period, climbing from roughly $260,000 to $340,000…