Why I Despise the Label “Starter Home”

I may have written about the term “starter home” before…please forgive me if I have. After 13 years of blogging, I am sure certain patterns of thought will emerge.

But even if I am double-dipping, this one deserves a second round.

Why, you ask?

Because “starter home” is at the top of my list of unnecessary labels whose sole purpose is to inject a cocktail of judgment and consumerism into people’s veins.

Other phrases of this nature…

Mini moon.

Natural birth.

Name brand.

All of these imply that there’s a “better” way of operating— usually one that is rooted in extravagance or idealism. Yet, research shows that extravagance and idealism aren’t what will make you happy, so making this distinction with subtle labels of power or judgment only perpetuate competition, disappointment, and discontent.

For the sake of time, I won’t break down exactly why each one of these labels grinds my gears, but I WILL dive a little deeper into my take on “starter home.”

What is a starter home, exactly?
According to Google, a starter home is “a relatively small, economical house or condominium that meets the requirements of young people buying their first home.”
Let’s unpack this, shall we?

1. “Relatively small & economical” implies that a small house isn’t worthy of living in forever, and that you would only live in a smaller home because it’s “economical” — i.e. that’s what you can afford.

   What more and more people discover throughout life, however, is that larger homes often

   • threaten economic stability (sure, you might be able to afford more as your career progresses, but you never feel financially free if you continue with the same ratio of income to spending — no matter how much you make)

   • suck our time. Is your time on this planet truly best spent caring for a big house with lots of rooms and lots of stuff?

   • don’t support family life in the way our consumerist society tries to tell us they will. We might have more seats at a dining room table or more rooms for our kids to lay their heads, but it’s easier for each family member to hide away in their own corners of the home, leaving everyone isolated and disconnected.

   2. “Meets the requirements of young people” makes some pretty bold assumptions:

   • that buying your first home should be something that happens when you’re young, even though the reality of millions of people in our country is that it can take decades to save up for a home

   • that young people are the only ones who should choose “small and economical”, when a small, economical house would be a smart choice for people of any age

   • that you shouldn’t remain content with your purchase. As you age, you “should” want more room or a “better” neighborhood.

With how interest rates have skyrocketed in the past few years, I’ve seen memes and reels all over the place joking that “our starter home is now our forever home.”

You know what I wish? I wish it hadn’t taken a housing crisis for people to realize they can find contentment in their homes. We don’t need to join the mindless rat race of western society, always chasing the next wrung of status and so-called comfort, when those things only leave us more stressed than ever.

The label “starter home” is simply a real estate marketing ploy that keeps us spending more and more money on bigger and bigger properties that are not necessary for fulfillment in life.

I think it’s perfectly fine to dream up your perfect house. After all, our homes are where we spend the majority of our time — my heavy endorsement of decluttering relates back to the influence our home environment has on our mental wellbeing! So I get it.

AND I want us to be more cognizant of what a “perfect house” means. I don’t know about you, but I won’t fall for the trap that bigger is better. My dream home is small enough that housework feels manageable, my family easily interacts, and I’m not spending all my money on a mortgage and utilities. Sure, would I love a view? Absolutely. Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

But labeling something a “starter home” is just a consumerist strategy to spark discontentment, and I will have NONE of it!