Today, the ability to work remotely has opened up more options and opportunities for homeownership in more affordable areas. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may be wondering: should you buy a starter home in a suburb that’s more affordable or spend a little more on a larger, forever home?
What is a starter home?
A starter home, or starter house, is a short-term, small dwelling that’s usually purchased by first-time homeowners because of its affordability.A starter home typically has one to two bedrooms with one bathroom and roughly 750-1,250 square feet of space. The home usually serves the basic needs of the homeowner and is great for first-time homeowners who aren’t ready to commit to a residence long-term. Homeowners usually only live in a starter home for 3-7 years or at least long enough to see a return on the investment.
What is a forever home?
A forever home is a house you can see yourself living in for a long time. About double the average price of a starter home, forever homes are also much larger in size with about 2,000 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, and two baths. Generally, forever homes are best for homeowners who are looking to settle for at least 10 years and want a space that can evolve with upcoming life-changing events like having kids. You like the location, you have a stable job, and you don’t have any plans of moving in the near future.Starter home vs forever home
Homeownership is a personal choice, and there is no one right path to take. Stick within your comfort zone, weigh what’s best for your circumstances and future plans, and trust your gut.Pros -
Smaller down payment: Starter homes are typically the most affordable option for homeownership. When you buy a home, you have to put down a certain percentage toward the purchase price. The percentage, called a down payment, varies widely. Starter homes typically require a smaller down payment, since they’re less expensive.It’s worth noting, however, that in 2021, homes are flying off the market at a record pace due to demand, a relative lack of supply of for-sale homes, and historically low mortgage interest rates.
Cons -
More competition: Because starter homes are among the most affordable homes, they are often the most sought-after. In competitive markets, where buyers outnumber sellers, you could be in for a prolonged search or a stressful bidding war.Harder to generate rental income: New buyers say the opportunity to rent out a portion of their home while they’re living there is very or extremely important to them. If you’re counting on rental income to help pay the mortgage, a modest starter home may include only one bathroom, making it hard to rent outside of a roommate situation.
May need more repairs: While any home can require repairs, starter homes that are less expensive than other homes in the same market could need repairs or updating. In addition to making changes to reflect your personal style, you may have to pay for improvements and repairs you hadn’t planned on, especially if it’s an older home where maintenance has been deferred.
Additional moving costs: Think you’ll be ready to upgrade in just a few years? There are costs associated with buying and selling a home: title insurance, inspections, brokerage commission, along a handful of loan fees. It might be more cost-effective to save and stretch for the larger house, so you can stay in it longer.
More expensive homes build more wealth: If homes were grouped into three tiers based on their values — found that year-over-year appreciation for starter homes was 4.4% in February 2020 compared to 2.9% for the most expensive homes. A year later, all three tiers had appreciated at about the same rate — 10% (9.8% for starter homes and 9.5% for the most expensive homes). In a scenario where all homes are appreciating at the same rate, buying a more expensive home could build wealth faster since any growth would be based on a higher amount.
In areas where homes in all tiers are appreciating at the same rate, buying a more expensive home could build wealth faster since any growth would be based on a higher amount.
For example, the value of a typical starter home in February 2021 was $141,832 for the starter tier, $272,446 for the mid-tier, and $537,815 for the priciest group. If each tier grew by 10% in a year, a typical starter home would gain $14,183 in equity, the mid-tier home would gain $27,245, and the top-tier home would be worth $53,782 more. It’s worth noting that growth is not guaranteed, and you should buy a home only if it’s right for you.
What to look for in a starter home
A good starter home, while temporary, should still provide you with some of the same comforts as a forever home.Comfortable monthly payments: You may get pre-approved for a more expensive mortgage than you can comfortably afford. While starter homes generally cost less than a typical single-family home, you can use an affordability calculator to estimate the mortgage amount that will work best with your budget.
Sensible location: While the floorplan and home features are important to consider, starter homes are often in less desirable locations with fewer amenities. You want your starter home to be near things you care about. Think about the home’s distance from family, friends, and daily conveniences like groceries.
Meets future needs: 35% of moves are linked to momentous life events, such as marriage, the arrival of children, and job changes. If any of those are on the near horizon, you might consider whether a starter home will be a good fit for your future self.
Low maintenance: Sure TV shows make fixer-uppers look fun, but are you prepared to make the needed upgrades/renovations and cover the additional costs that come with them?
Resale value: A typical buyer plans to live in their home for at least four or five years. If you buy a home and its value grows during that time — a possibility but not a guarantee — you could regain the money you spent to buy it when you sell it. Typically, those costs amount to 2%-5% of the purchase price.
How to buy a starter home
Think you’re ready to buy a starter home? Below are the next steps to take, and be sure to talk with The Nick Johnson Group about your home buying needs, so that we can help guide you to a home that’s a good fit.- Get pre-approved for a mortgage
- Search for available starter homes
- Make an offer
- Schedule an inspection of the property
- Apply for a home loan
- Check that the home appraisal matches or comes above your offer price
- Purchase a homeowners insurance policy
- Close on the home
