Buying your first house is a major move, even if the home itself is tiny. Becoming a homeowner can be a great way to start putting down some roots and building equity. And just because it’s called a “starter home” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re twenty-something when you go shopping for one. For many people, the purchase of a first, maybe-not-forever house can come years or decades later.
But what exactly makes a good starter home? How do you know when to jump into the housing market? There are many variables to factor in, such as price, location, type of home, the sort of mortgage you’ll get, your personal finances, and more.
Read on to learn answers to such questions as:
• Why should you buy a starter home?
• Should you buy a starter home or wait?
• How do you buy a starter home?
What Is a Starter Home?
The first step in deciding “Should I buy a starter home?” is understanding what exactly that “starter home” term means. A starter home is loosely defined as a smaller property that a first-time buyer expects to live in for just a few years.
The home could be a condo, townhouse, or single-family home. But generally, when you purchase a starter home, you anticipate outgrowing it — maybe when you get married or have a couple of kids, or because you want more space, a bigger yard, or additional amenities.
A starter house could be brand-new, a fixer-upper, or somewhere in between, but it’s usually priced right for a buyer with a relatively modest budget.
That modest budget, though, may need to be loftier than in years past. The 2022 price of a starter home was $325,000, according to Realtor.com, up 48% from $220,000 in 2019.
That might sound a little intimidating, but remember, that’s the median price. Depending on where you live, there may be entry-level homes selling at significantly lower price points.
Recommended: What Is Housing Discrimination?
How Long Should You Stay in a Starter Home?
Unless you’re a big fan of packing and moving — not to mention the often-stressful process of selling one home and then buying another, or buying and selling a house at the same time — you may want to stay in your starter home for at least two to five years.
There can be significant financial reasons to stick around for a while:
• Home sellers are typically responsible for paying real estate agents’ commissions and many other costs. If you haven’t had some time to build equity in the home, you might only break even or even lose money on the sale.
• You could owe capital gains taxes if you’ve owned the home for less than two years and you sell it for more than you paid.
Of course, if there’s a major change in your personal or professional life — you’re asked to relocate for work, you grow your family, or you win the lottery (woo-hoo!) — you may need or want to sell sooner.
What Is a Forever Home?
A forever home is one that you expect to tick all the boxes for many years — maybe even the rest of your life. It’s a place where you plan to put down roots.
A forever home can come in any size or style and at any cost you can manage. It might be new, with all the bells and whistles, or it could be a 100-year-old wreck that you plan to renovate to fit your home decorating style and vision.
Your forever home might be in your preferred school district. It might be close to friends and family — or the golf club you want to join. It’s all about getting the items on your home-buying wish list that you’ve daydreamed about and worked hard for.
At What Age Should You Buy Your Forever Home?
There’s no predetermined age for finding and moving into a forever home. Some buyers plan to settle in for life when they’re 25 or 30, and some never really put down roots.
But according to data from the 2022 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors® Research Group, buyers in the 57 to 66 age range said they expected to live in their newly purchased home longer than buyers from other age groups, with an expectation of 20 years of residence.
Younger buyers (ages 23 to 31) and older buyers (75 to 90) said they expected to stay put for 10 years.
The median expectation for buyers of all ages was 12 years.
Recommended: First-Time Homebuyer’s Guide
Benefits of Buying a Starter Home
Are you contemplating “Should I buy a starter home?” Here are some of the main advantages of buying a starter home:
• Becoming a homeowner can bring stability to life. A starter home comes with a feeling of “good enough for now” that, for some buyers, is just the right amount of commitment without feeling stuck in the long term.
• Buying a starter home is also a great way to try on aspects of homeownership that renters take for granted, like making your own repairs and mowing your own yard. The larger the house, the more work it usually brings. With a starter home, you can start small.
• Buying a starter home is also an investment that could see good returns down the road. While you live in the home, you’ll be putting monthly payments toward your own investment instead of your landlord’s. Depending on market conditions, you could make some money when you decide to trade up, either through the equity you’ve gained when you sell or recurring income if you choose to turn it into a rental property.
• Homeowners who itemize deductions on their taxes may take the mortgage interest deduction. Most people take the standard deduction, which for tax year 2022 (filing by Tax Day 2023) is:
◦ $25,900 for married couples filing jointly
◦ $12,950 for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately
◦ $19,400 for heads of households
• Some homeowners who itemize may be able to do better than the standard deduction. For instance, in some states, a homestead exemption gives homeowners a fixed discount on property taxes. In Florida, for example, the exemption lowers the assessed value of a property by $50,000 for tax purposes.
First-time homebuyers can
prequalify for a SoFi mortgage loan,
with as little as 3% down.
Downsides of Starter Homes
Next, consider the potential disadvantages of snagging a starter home:
• While the idea of buying a home just big enough for one or two is a romantic one, the reality of finding a starter home that’s affordable has gotten tougher.
The outlook has been so bleak, especially in some larger cities, that some Millennials are opting out of the starter-home market altogether, choosing instead to rent longer or live with their parents and save money.
Who can blame Millennials for taking a different approach to homeownership than their parents? The older members of this generation came of age during the financial crisis of 2008-09, which included a bursting housing bubble that put many of their parents — and even some of them — underwater on a mortgage they may not have been able to afford in the first place.
• When thinking about whether you should buy a starter home, know that it may require a lot of sweat equity and cash. If you buy a bargain-priced first home, you may be on the hook for spending much of your free time and cash to restore it.
• Another con of buying a starter home is the prospect of having to go through the entire home-buying process again, possibly while trying to sell your starter home, too. Keeping your house show-ready, paying closing costs, going through the underwriting process, packing, moving, and trying to time it all so you avoid living in temporary lodging is a big endeavor that, when compared with the relative ease of moving between apartments, can be seen as not worth the effort.
• In some circumstances, you may have to pay capital gains taxes on the sale of your starter home when you move up.
If you aren’t ready to jump into a starter home, an alternative could be a rent-to-own home.
How to Find Starter Homes for Sale
Are you ready to start the hunt? Here are some tips for finding a starter home:
• Work with an experienced real estate agent who knows your market and spends their days finding homes in your price range.
• Rethink your house criteria. If you are buying a starter home and figured you’d shop for a three-bedroom, you may find more options and less heated competition if you go for a two-bedroom house.
• Take a big-picture view. If you’re a young couple with no kids yet, maybe you don’t need to purchase in the tip-top school district. After all, you are at least several years away from sending a little one to their first day of school Or, if prices are super-high for single-family houses, could buying a condo or a townhome work well for a number of years?
You might also look into purchasing a duplex or other type of property.
Average U.S. Cost of a Starter Home
As noted above, the typical cost of a starter home in the U.S. was $325,000. Keep in mind, however, that there is a huge variation in costs. A rural home may be much less expensive than shopping for a starter home that’s within short commuting distance of a major city, like New York or San Francisco.
Is Buying a Starter Home Worth It?
Deciding whether a starter home is worth it is a very personal decision. One person might be eager to stop living with their parents and be ready to plunk down their savings for a home. Another person might have a comfortable rental in a great town and be reluctant to take on a home mortgage loan as they continue to pay down their student loan debt.
When you consider the pros and cons of starter homes listed above, you can likely decide whether buying a starter home is worth it at this moment of your life.
Tips on Buying a Starter Home
If you’re tired of renting or living with your parents but don’t have the cash flow necessary for anything more than a humble abode, a starter home could be a great way to get into real estate without breaking the bank. Some pointers on how to buy a starter home:
• Before you buy any home — starter or otherwise — it’s important to sit down and crunch the numbers to see how much home you can realistically afford. Lenders look at your debt when considering your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), but they aren’t privy to other regular monthly expenses, such as child care or kids’ activity fees. Be sure to factor those in.
• You also may want to look at how much you can afford for a down payment. While a 20% down payment isn’t required to purchase a home, most non-government home loan programs do require some down payment.
It’s possible to buy a home with a small down payment: The average first-time homebuyer puts down about 6% of a home’s price as a down payment, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
In addition, putting down less than 20% means you may have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI).
• You’ll want to explore different mortgage loan products as well, possibly with a mortgage broker. You’ll have to decide between adjustable and fixed rate offerings, 20-year vs. 30-year mortgages, and different rates. You may also be in a position to buy down your rate with points. Getting a few offers can help you see how much house you can afford, as can using an online mortgage calculator.
• The decision to purchase a starter home is about more than just money, though. You may also want to consider your future plans and how quickly you might grow out of the house, whether you’re willing to live where the affordable houses are, and if you’ll be happy living without the amenities you’ll find in a larger house.
• Other factors to consider are your current state of financial health and your mental readiness for a DIY lifestyle (which includes your willingness to fix your own leaky toilet or pay a plumber.)
• If you’re ready to make the leap, there are plenty of home ownership resources available to help you get started on the path to buying your starter home. Your first step might be to check out a few open houses and to research mortgage loans online.
The Takeaway
Buying a starter home can be a good way to get your foot in the door of homeownership, but it’s important to consider your financial situation and your plans for the next two to five years or more before buying a starter house.
Are you house hunting and mortgage shopping? SoFi offers fixed-rate mortgage loans with as little as 3% down for first-time homebuyers, plus competitive rates and variable terms.
SoFi Mortgage Loans: The smart, simple source for financing.
FAQ
How much money should you have saved to buy a starter home?
The average down payment is about 6% of the home purchase price. That number can help you see how much you want to have in the bank, though mortgage loans may be available with as little as 3% down or even zero down if you are shopping for a government-backed mortgage. Worth noting: If your down payment is under 20%, you may have to pay private mortgage insurance.
What is considered a good starter home?
A good starter home will likely check off some of the items on your wish list (square footage, location, amenities, etc.) and will not stretch your budget too much. You want to be able to keep current with other forms of debt you may have as well as pay your monthly bills (which will likely include mortgage, property tax, home maintenance, and more). That financial equation may help you decide whether to buy a starter home or wait.
How much do people spend on a starter home?
As of 2022, the average price for a starter home in the U.S. was $325,000. However, prices will vary greatly depending on location, size, style, and condition.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.
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