Entry-Level Homes Disappear: The New Reality of American Homeownership

The starter home—traditionally America's first step toward homeownership—has become economically unattainable for millions of educated, employed Americans. Housing costs have surged 115% over the past decade while incomes rose just 45%, pushing first-time home buyers to an average age of 40 and forcing creative alternatives like tiny homes and shared purchases. This fundamental shift reflects a broader economic squeeze that challenges longstanding assumptions about wealth-building and adulthood in America.