Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It also makes me think in reasonably good condition that will not require immediate large maitenance costs and affordable, but not extravagant. The roof doesn't require replacement any time soon, but the kitchen will be neither granite nor stainless.
Also good interpretation,
Another reason realtors will use their creative writing skills is to keep from getting their hand slapped by the industries PC Police. For example in our advertising we should not be saying things like "great family home", might offend someone that is not a "traditional family". We should not say things like "walking distance to park" might offend a handicap person. "Close to Synagogue" no way, could be accused of being either pro Jewish or anti Jewish, and the list go on and on.
Usually small, needs work and other undesirables but the low price offsets that. Also first time home buyers are usually young and don't mind getting their hands dirty fixing things up. Older buyers want everything perfect and just changing the color of a room many look at as some kind of major renovation project.
I was thinking maybe add the idea that as a good entry home its a place that holds value and is easily resold to other first time buyers as you move up to next home, hence the term "starter". To me that implies a good school district but that might be taking things too far.
I'm surprised at the negative connotations a lot of people have to the phrase. My house is considered a "starter home". Reason being it's on the smaller side, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. We have one child, but are selling b/c we want another one and then we start running out of space. The only "negative" we really have is that we're on a slightly busier street not a true "neighborhood" so that makes it not a long-term home (for us).
Thanks for all the explanations. Some things like smaller, older I had thought about but you've given me more food for thought as to what else it can mean. It does seem like it's meant to appeal to younger families who might not live there long.
My impression - they are trying to market a small or otherwise flawed property to owner buyers as opposed to inverters
Make it seem homey and desirable..
In Houston, it means a 3 bedroom/2 bath home under 1500 square feet in a neighborhood with lots of young families. No granite or pool, etc., but in decent shape and with a mortgage equal to or less than their current rent. It's not a bad connotation. Perfect for an investor - now, that's a home to run from!
My first home was a 'starter' home and it was perfect for me. A brand new 3 bedroom ranch on a HUGE flat yard. We were on a street with other newly built homes and we all moved in around the same time.
I loved that house and my street and my wonderful neighbors. We had a cookout every week-end at someone's house. We all had young children.
Now, it did need landscaped. And it WAS close to the railroad tracks (which I didn't figure out until we were moved in). And it was not a great big house - but it was the perfect house for us at the time and I'll never forget it.
It's because the agents writing them really aren't all that good at writing up the description of a home. I could go into more detail, but I'll leave it at that.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
