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Starter homes: how and where to find them

 
istockphoto.com
istockphoto.com
Published Oct. 25, 2014

First-time home buyers might well wonder: Where are all the starter houses?

Indeed, such properties can seem scarce in many housing markets.

A few reasons:

• Investors have snapped up a lot of smaller houses and turned them into rental properties.

• Flippers have bought smaller homes and remodeled them so they're no longer within the reach of first-time buyers.

• Many current homeowners don't have enough equity to move or would rather add on to a smaller house than give up a low-rate mortgage.

• Builders have opted to construct pricier trade-up homes instead of affordable starters.

How long will this last?

The slow pace of new home construction suggests that the dearth of starter homes might continue for some time.

That could prove challenging for first-home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors.

States such as California, Florida, Indiana, Montana and Utah, where job growth has been especially strong, "could face persistent housing shortage and affordability issues" unless local job gains are matched by increases in housing construction, the association says.

So how — or more precisely, where — can first-time buyers find a modest home they like and can afford?

Older houses cost less

One strategy is to look for an older home in a well-established neighborhood.

Used homes typically cost less than brand-new homes, says Bradley Hunter, chief economist for Metrostudy, a housing market research firm in Palm Beach Gardens.

Older homes typically need more maintenance and repairs, which offsets some of the cost savings. However, Hunter says, buyers who opt for a used home might be able to do repairs and renovations over time, pacing themselves to make the cost manageable.

First-timers who are determined to purchase a brand-new home should look for a local or regional builder that caters to this market.

"Some builders — not the majority of them, but some — are targeting first-time home buyers," Hunter says.

Think 'starter' home

Buyers shopping for their first home need to be open-minded about the location, size and condition of the home they want to buy, says Tim Deihl, associate broker with Gibson Sotheby's International Realty in Boston.

For many buyers, a classic starter home, which traditionally doesn't have many amenities, is more achievable.

"If your first home is the place you're going to have your family, maybe build an addition and stay there forever, that's one set of criteria. If your starter home will be a financial launchpad into a larger, better home, that's a different approach," Deihl says.

Rethink location

Hunter points to some older neighborhoods in Florida where homes were built decades ago on a so-called "scattered lot" basis. These neighborhoods lack the homogeneity of newer housing tracts and might not include such amenities as sidewalks or street lights. Yet, such houses can be more affordable.

Buyers who want to start a family, but don't yet have children, sometimes focus too much on their home's location, size and school district, Deihl suggests. Resetting those parameters can make it easier to buy a first home.

"Buyers may be in a position where schools won't impact them for six or seven years," Deihl says. "That's a good opportunity to buy in the city, make some money and roll that into a community where they want to be longer term with the kids."

A foreclosed home?

A bank-owned foreclosure also might be a good option, though those aren't as common as they were a few years ago.

First-home buyers shouldn't be scared off by the stigma or horror stories about the poor condition of foreclosure homes, Deihl says. Some properties might need to be cleaned, but many have major components like plumbing, electric, heating and air-conditioning system and kitchen appliances in working condition.

City or suburb?

Buyers who sacrifice location for affordability can find themselves in a neighborhood far from major job centers with a long daily commute and expensive transportation costs.

Sometimes that trade-off makes sense, but not always, says Cathy Coneway, a broker for Stanberry & Associates Realtors in Austin, Texas. "You have to look at how much you make and how much you can afford to spend for gas," Coneway says. "You might actually be better off buying a house that's closer to town so you have more cash flow for property taxes, insurance and living expenses."

Loan approval advantage

When a well-priced starter house comes on the market, the quest to buy it can be what Deihl characterizes as "super-competitive." One way to strengthen an offer is to present a loan preapproval that includes everything but a title search, appraisal and hazard insurance, says Jay Dacey, a mortgage broker at Metropolitan Financial Mortgage Co. in Minneapolis.

A strategic phone call might help, too.

"We call the listing agent and say, 'Mr. and Mrs. Jones submitted an offer on your property. Not only are they preapproved, but they've gone through the underwriting approval process with our bank,'" Dacey says. "That makes the offer stronger."