What Is a Starter Home?

Dusty Rhodes • July 8, 2024

You’ve heard the term, but do you know what a starter home really is, and what to look for in your hunt for one? We’ll explain.


Looking to buy your first home? You’ve likely heard the advice that there’s not a ton of pressure when you first enter the housing market. After all, you’re just looking for a “starter home,” right? Your pick won’t be the place you live forever, so why stress too much about it? Maybe so, maybe not, is what experts say about the modern house-buying cycle.


For many buyers, that first home—the starter home—marks a turning point in their lives where they stop paying rent and start investing in a property that can help build generational wealth over time.


“For most people, that is where wealth begins,” says Jack Gross, president and CEO at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Cassidon Realty. “In some markets, that could be a one- or two-bedroom apartment condo. In other markets that could be a townhome or a small single detached ranch. In most cases it’s a home that is under the median price point for the local market.”


Starter homes have different definitions for different people. In this article, we’ll take a look at the features you should look for in a starter home—and the ones you can skip as you hunt for the perfect property.


Defining the Starter Home


When buyers think of starter homes, they typically think small, affordable, and something they’ll eventually grow out of. In general, though, a starter home might just be a property you have to make some compromises about if you want to get into the housing market as a first-time buyer. 


“A starter home is a house that is typically the first that a person can afford to buy,” says Alex Capozzolo, co-founder of Brotherly Love Real Estate. “Starter homes are generally one- or two-bed properties. Buyers with limited financial means generally consider starter homes. They might also be a choice for people who are trying to save money for an upgrade to a better neighborhood or a bigger house, for example.”


Typically, a starter home is one that lasts the buyer a short amount of time before they look for their next home or their forever home. 


“On average, a starter home owner might keep the house for 5 to 7 years before selling,” Capozzolo says. “However, this is also dependent on factors like mortgage, income, housing inventory, et cetera.”


In rare cases, your starter home could be your forever home, says Stephanie LoVerde, agent at Baird & Warner in Chicago.


“There are buyers out there who can afford to ‘skip’ a step and progress from renting or owning a smaller condo to something more extravagant that meets their immediate as well as anticipated needs,” she says.


And if you find yourself totally happy to stay in your starter home long-term, that’s fine, too. 


“A property that a buyer may look at as more of a shorter-term ‘starter’ home could end up being their forever home, depending on their living situation and changing needs,” LoVerde says. “Maybe their family doesn’t grow as large as anticipated, or they fall in love with the location or school district and decide to stay put, renovate, and build additions.”


What to Look for in a Starter Home


As you shop for your first home, Capozzolo says to focus on a few key features, beginning with the floor plan. You’ll want something that meets your current needs, but you don’t necessarily need extra bedrooms or floors to grow into if you feel confident that you’ll be able to move into a larger house as your family grows. In addition, make sure your commute to work and other key locations is manageable. Don’t stress if you have to sacrifice your ideal layout and location a bit if the goal is simply to enter the housing market. 


“The beauty of starter homes is that they should take the least money from you as possible,” Capozzolo says.


A starter home might be something that is move-in ready and easy to maintain, or it might require some elbow grease.


“For some buyers, a smart long-term housing strategy might be to buy something on the lower side of their budget and make improvements,” LoVerde says. “Hopefully, they will gain equity from the improvements and be able to personally enjoy those upgrades while owning the property.”


Many buyers also think of their starter homes as homes that will ultimately appreciate in value and earn them a little money when they’re ready to move onto the next property. If that’s the case, you might be willing to make a few improvements.


“Conversely, some buyers don’t want the hassle of lifting a hammer or picking out a shade of paint, and they are willing to pay for a home that is move-in ready and aligned to their tastes—which is fine, but the upwards potential may not be as great,” LoVerde says. “Everyone is different.”


Are You Ready for a Starter Home?


If you’re itching for more space or tired of jumping from one apartment to the next and looking to settle down somewhere where to plant roots and nest, it could be time to buy. 


“In almost all cases, it is prudent to be an owner and not a renter,” Gross says. “When you are renting, you are paying down someone else’s principal on their mortgage. The landlord benefits from the appreciation, depreciation.” 


Gross says that, in most cases, those who plan to stay in an area for at least two years will benefit from buying vs. renting. There are rent vs. mortgage calculators online that can help you get a rough estimate of whether renting or buying is the smarter move, money-wise, in your area.


From there, you’ll want to figure out how much home you can afford by taking a look at your monthly expenses, the tax advantages of buying, and whether the homes you’re considering need repairs (and more money) in the immediate future. You’ll also want to calculate how much a down payment might be, and whether you have enough money saved up.


“These are all questions one should ask themselves and consider and make sure you are asking the questions to a qualified professional, Realtor, accountant and mortgage lender,” Gross says.


Capozzolo says many first-time buyers opt for less house than they can afford to allow themselves some wiggle room as they tackle their largest financial investment to date. 



“When buying a starter home, some buyers get pre-approved for a mortgage and then shop based on how much they can borrow. If you do not qualify for a conventional mortgage, FHA loans are a reliable choice,” he says. “When it comes to starter homes, you might want to spend less than you are approved for. Taking on a larger mortgage might cause financial difficulties moving forward.”


Source: BHG.com



Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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What Stays With the House When You Move?

By Dusty Rhodes • March 30, 2026
When you’re selling your home , it is natural to assume that anything you can safely remove is yours to keep—like the light fixtures you painstakingly cleaned and repaired, or the appliances you bought last year. But the truth is, the buyer may want some of those items, too, and sometimes it's better to part ways with these items for the sake of the sale. Rather than keep everything, you should decide what you'd like to keep and what you'll leave behind as a way to entice buyers into making an offer, particularly in today's market where buyers are holding more of the cards than ever. What stays with the house? Generally, certain items stay with the house when you sell and move. Some features may seem obvious, but the truth is, you're probably expected to leave more behind than you think. Some of these items can include: Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stay inside the home. Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Wall mounts: If you have TV wall mounts or picture mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains , plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors. Hardware : If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in the bathrooms and kitchen, you should either leave those behind or install replacements before you move. Alarm systems : Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service. Smoke detectors : Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house. What can you take? While you’re expected to leave some items behind, in general your belongings are yours to keep. Here are some examples: Patio furniture, lawn equipment, and play sets : If you have a wooden swing set in the backyard and a bistro table on the front porch, take those items with you. Appliances : Some lenders require that a home have an oven installed before approving a loan, but for all other appliances, it's up to you to decide what you will take and what you will offer as part of the home. Some light fixtures : Generally, homeowners leave light fixtures behind, but if you’re attached to a certain fixture, you can make arrangements with the buyer to take it. Built-in kitchen tools : If you can safely remove a mounted spice rack or the pasta arm, you can take it with you. Rugs, basic curtains, wreaths : Small decor items like rugs or curtain rods that can be safely removed can be taken. What should you consider leaving? Some of your personal items can be used to help sell your house—or increase the asking price. Before you take everything just to take it, consider offering some hot items like the following: Appliances : Homeowners, especially new homeowners, don’t always have their own appliances. Many buyers would be more likely to place an offer on a home if it came fully stocked with appliances. Custom swing and play sets : If you have a swing set or playhouse your children have outgrown and you notice a potential buyer has children, offer to include the item with the deal. Kitchen built-ins : Built-in spice racks, pantry organization, and windowsill shelves can really help sell a kitchen. Consider offering the items to an interested buyer. Light fixtures, curtains, rugs, and other upgrades : If you’ve upgraded the light fixtures or have custom rugs in the entryway, a buyer may be willing to increase his or her offer to keep those items in the home.  If you’re not sure what would entice a buyer, ask your real estate agent to provide suggestions. Don't have an agent yet? Here's how to find a real estate agent in your area.

Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them)

By Dusty Rhodes • March 23, 2026
Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country. And the sellers who are making their moves happen all have one thing in common: they’ve adjusted their strategy to match today’s market. They’re realizing inventory has grown. Homebuyers are more selective. And buyer expectations are higher. The sellers who struggle are usually approaching today’s market with yesterday’s expectations. Here are the three biggest mistakes they’re making – and how to avoid them. 1. Pricing Based on What Their Neighbor Got a Few Years Back Setting your price is the most important decision you make when you sell – and the one that’s most often mishandled. Realtor.com data shows almost 1 out of 5 sellers in 2025 had to drop their price. Here’s what those sellers went wrong. Buyers have more choice and more negotiating power now that inventory has grown. And house hunters will actively avoid your house is if feels like it’s priced too high. That’s why overpricing usually leads to: Fewer showings Less competitive (or lowball) offers Longer time on market And all three of those side effects are things you don’t want to deal with. What To Do Instead: The good news is the cure is simple. Just price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s headlines. Lean on your agent’s knowledge of recent comparable sales, current competition, and local buyer behavior to land in the value “sweet spot” that drives traffic and urgency from day one. 2. Trying To Skip Repairs That Buyers Now Expect A few years ago, you could sell as-is and still get well above asking. Today? Not so much. Right now, NAR says two-thirds of sellers are making at least some repairs. And the reason why is simple. In a market with more inventory, buyers compare homes side by side. Homes that don’t show well (or feel dated) are going to lose attention quickly, even if the issues are minor. What To Do Instead: Ask your agent which high-impact, low-stress updates they’d recommend for your house. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping buyers see themselves moving in without a mental to-do list. Small investments in staging, repairs, and curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly offers come in – and how strong those offers are. 3. Playing Hardball When Buyers Try To Negotiate Today’s buyers have housing affordability at the top of their minds. And since money is already tight, they’ll be pickier and will probably ask for some compromises from you. Whether that’s making repairs, giving them a credit at closing, or taking just a few thousand dollars off your asking price, negotiating is normal again. So, if something pops up in the inspection, you’re going to need to be open to talking about it. If you’re not, you may very well see your buyer walk away. And some sellers are figuring this out the hard way. Redfin data shows one of the big reasons home sales fell thru in 2025 was inspection or repair issues. Odds are those homeowners weren’t willing to flex a bit to get the deal done. What to Do Instead: Meet with your agent to make sure you understand what buyers in your area care the most about. Align your price with value, present the home clearly and confidently, and stay open to reasonable negotiations that keep deals moving forward.

10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By

By Dusty Rhodes • March 16, 2026
They’re often called aging-in-place features, but things like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and wide walkways and doorways can benefit everyone, no matter their age or ability. “Regardless of aging in place, there is a place for these in day-to-day life, whether it be a teenager on crutches, a family member having had surgery, active kids,” designer Dana Bass says. “It’s not just about aging in place. We’ve got to account for unplanned life emergencies.” Designer Tammy Battistessa of Ellaire Kitchen & Bath Design agrees. “Whenever possible, I include aging-in-place and universal design features in every project, as I believe many of these features benefit clients of all ages and abilities, in addition to allowing a client to safely remain in their home for a longer period of time,” she says. Creating a home that can adapt also makes it more sustainable. “Aging in place is a key element to making legacy homes that can evolve over time,” architect Tim Barber says. With all that in mind, we asked more than 50 home design and construction professionals to share the aging-in-place features they always recommend. Here are the 10 that came up again and again. 1. Wide Walkways and Doorways Planning ahead is one of the most important steps when incorporating aging-in-place features. Many of these elements require thoughtful design and construction, so it’s wise to start early — and to consider hiring professionals who understand the nuances. “Thinking through how you will really use the space makes all the difference,” designer Haiku Durden of HDS Design says. “Having a designer involved really makes a difference.” A professional can help you create a plan that works for your current needs and anticipates future ones. “We currently default to aging-in-place features when our clients are near retirement or retirement age,” says designer Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio . “Preplanning by adding blocking behind the wall finish, spacious floor planning to allow for wheelchair or walker use.” In fact, spacious layouts are among the most commonly recommended aging-in-place strategies. Wide walkways and doorways — and generous clearances around furniture and fixtures — make it easier for anyone to move through the home comfortably. Installing a continuous flooring material throughout also reduces tripping hazards caused by changes in height or texture between rooms.