Starter Homes Are Harder to Find Nationally but Still Available in Midwest Markets
A new Realtor.com report shows that entry-level home inventory has declined nationally since 2019, making it harder for first-time buyers. The share of starter-priced listings dropped from 38.1% in August 2019 to 36.2% by August 2026, while the national price threshold rose nearly 30%. This means fewer affordable homes are available even as prices increase. The decline is most pronounced in Sunbelt and Southeast markets like Columbia, S.C., Winston-Salem, N.C., Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., and Augusta, Ga. Meanwhile, Midwest cities such as Toledo, Ohio; St. Louis; and Detroit have maintained or increased their starter-home inventory shares. Condos and townhomes are becoming a more significant part of the entry-level market, rising from 18% to 27.1% of starter-priced listings since 2019.
Topics: affordability inventory trends market analysis starter homes