Is There Still Such a Thing as a Starter Home in This Economy?

5 comments

1. Ask Paul Krugman if Dems should care.

2. Classic starter home…no

3. Yes, of course. Keep in mind that a single-family home has never been a “starter”. Traditionally most people have managed with apartments or parents until they’ve gotten established with a career and are earning decent income.

   Also keep in mind that current TV shows and movies almost always show people living in places way more expensive than they could be expected to afford.

4. it does just not every where, you really can’t expect an affordable starter home in HCOL, it’s just not how demand and supply works..

5. A lot of places have legislated the starter home out of existence. In my county (a growing suburb of Atlanta), the minimum size of a new house is 1600 sq. ft. In some cities in the county it’s up to 2200 sq. ft. It would be illegal to build the house I live in today, and it’s not even a starter home. Add in minimum lot sizes of half an acre, plus massive sections zoned for single-family housing only, plus an excessively restrictive permitting process. It just simply isn’t profitable to build starter homes anymore, probably by design.