0959 ET - The bar for entry-level homeownership has never been higher, Zillow says. While the typical starter home nationwide is worth $198,649, a record 242 cities now have starter homes valued at $1 million or more. That's up from 226 cities a year ago, even as affordability pressures have begun to ease in parts of the country. A "starter home" is typically defined as a home in the lowest third of home values. But conditions are slowly becoming friendlier for buyers: The typical home buyer now breaks even relative to renting after roughly six years, down from more than eight years in late 2023. New York and New Jersey are the fastest-growing states on the list. California leads overall with 105 cities, and 26 states now have at least one city with million-dollar starter homes. (chris.wack@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 15, 2026 09:59 ET (13:59 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.