Updated Oct 11, 2025 11:04 PM EDT
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If the past few months of working remotely in a cramped city apartment have you dreaming of more space, we have good news—it involves a moving truck. A recent Zillow report finds that nearly 2 million renters who can’t upgrade within their current metro might be able to afford the typical U.S. starter home elsewhere. It all comes down to the zip code.
Per Zillow, the typical starter home runs $131,740—not a steal, exactly, but for renters in pricier cities, buying one is a chance to trim costs and gain square footage at once. In San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, 25, 22, and 17 percent of renters, respectively, could save by relocating. If your remote job allows flexibility, consider cities like Akron, Ohio; Peoria, Illinois; and Rochester, New York—they’re among the most affordable for housing. All it takes is a little first-time-buyer know-how to navigate the market, and we tapped two real-estate pros for intel.
Prepare the Right Questions
Before you start touring, begin by interrogating your finances—including the fine print. “How much money do you want to have left over after you sign the paperwork?” says Mihal Gartenberg, an agent with Warburg Realty. “Also, ask about costs not pertaining to the purchase price.” Title insurance, for instance, can be a larger expense you might not be factoring in from the start.
Look Beyond the Listed Price
If your starter home is actually a starter apartment, there may be communal costs even after you buy. “Ask what capital improvements are planned for the building in the near future, as it could impact monthly fees,” suggests Michael J. Franco, a broker at Compass. Updates to a roof, boiler, facade, elevator, or even cosmetic touches like hallway or lobby remodels can sneak up on you, so find out how they’ll be financed in advance.
Crowdsource Tips From Friends
The most common mistake first-time buyers make? Not learning from friends and family who have already navigated the process, says Gartenberg. Talk to homeowners who have stood where you’re standing and jot down everything they wish they’d done differently.
Visit at Multiple Times
“A viewing might happen at a time of day when there’s not much traffic—buyers need to gauge potential noise issues,” says Franco. Do a few test runs so you’ve seen the place at different times; beyond noise, this helps you suss out where the light enters and what the neighborhood feels like at various hours. A little extra field research never hurts.
Meet Domino’s new podcast, Design Time, where we explore spaces with meaning. Each week, editor-in-chief Jessica Romm Perez sits down with talented creatives and designers from our community to unpack how to build a home that tells your story. Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Thursday.
Elly Leavitt
Writer and Editor
Elly covers everything from travel to offbeat design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would sit on the Upper West Side and brim with mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her quest to become a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.
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