Starter-Home Squeeze: Where First-Time Buyers Still Find a Foothold
New Realtor.com ® report finds entry-level inventory has thinned nationally since 2019, while Midwest markets still give buyers a meaningful path in AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Starter homes are becoming harder to find nationwide, but where buyers look matters as much as what they can afford, according to a new report from Realtor.com.® Starter-priced listings have become scarcer nationally since 2019, but the Midwest stands out for both inventory and neighborhood choice.