Affordable starter homes are still a reality in these major US cities

Starter homes have become increasingly scarce around the country relative to pre-pandemic inventory levels, though some metro areas around the country have a bigger supply for first-time home buyers.A new analysis by Realtor.com found that the national share of starter homes fell from 38.1% of active inventory in August 2019 to 36.2% in August 2026, while starter home prices rose 30.8% in that period from about $260,000 to $340,000.The report by Realtor.com senior economist Hannah Jones noted th