The starter home as a stepping stone is fading, and newlyweds are among the clearest examples of why.
The fixer-upper math stopped working
Renovation costs, contractor availability and the time required have all risen. A property that needs work is no longer the affordable option it was, and the gap between move-in ready and needs-work has narrowed less than the effort involved.
Buying for the life, not the phase
Couples are stretching to buy the home they intend to stay in rather than planning to trade up in five years. With transaction costs on both ends of a move, buying once is frequently cheaper than buying twice.
Funding the purchase differently
Directing wedding contributions toward a down payment rather than traditional registry items has become common and, for many couples, is the single largest boost to the deposit.
Three rules worth following
Agree on the maximum number before you start looking, so the decision is not made emotionally at a showing. Qualify on one income if you can, which builds resilience. And decide in advance how you will handle disagreement, because you will have one.
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