Connecticut
Growing challenges to find and afford starter homes in Connecticut
It can be especially daunting for those considering buying their first home and to see the costs surging.
Karess Cannon is ready to stop renting and is searching for her first home somewhere in central Connecticut.
“I realize there’s no perfect time, but as rents keep going up, it just makes sense to actually be putting money into something that I own,” Cannon said.
For many buyers, it’s becoming harder to find and afford a starter home – those in the bottom quarter of sales.
Starter prices here in Connecticut have skyrocketed about 50% from 2019 to 2024, according to Realtor.com.
The average starter home going from about $263,000 to then hitting $390,000.
Cannon has been saving and while she hasn’t been priced out of the current market yet, it still has its surprises.
“Like the listings, the reality of what’s out there right now, how does that contrast with your expectations going into the process?” NBC Connecticut’s Matt Austin asked.
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s just kind of knowing that X amount of dollars isn’t going to get you X amount house. Like that’s been the biggest management and being like, what things do I really need versus wants,” Cannon said.
When it comes to the costs, experts recommend buyers keep their mortgage payments to less than 30% of their income.
That means to afford the average starter home in the state, someone needs an income of about $93,000.
That’s gone up a lot recently amid a rise in prices and mortgage rates.
“You put those two things together and affordability starts to feel less and less attainable,” said Rachael Cisz, of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services New England Properties.
Cisz says with lower supply these past few years starter homes are in high demand.
It’s all adding up and last year only 24% of successful homebuyers were first-timers – the lowest on record.
Cisz tries to prepare her clients for searching in this market.
“I think it is all about setting the expectations both for what the process is going to look like and also kind of showing them firsthand. Here’s what your money can buy you, you know, in different towns, different types of properties,” Cisz said. “I’m always stressing to them, ‘you know, you might want this in a house, but you need to remember this isn’t your forever home. It’s just getting you into the market.’”
Cisz also reminds hopeful homeowners there is help for first-time buyers, including state assistance with a down payment.
Amtrak says it will not close any railroad bridges along Connecticut’s shoreline during the 2026 World Cup, backing away from a potential proposal that had sparked concerns from boaters, harbor officials, and marine businesses.
In an email Tuesday to NBC Connecticut, Amtrak spokesperson Jason Abrams said: “At this time, in coordination with the Coast Guard, we will not be closing any bridges on the Connecticut Coast Line during the tournament.”
The statement is a shift from a plan previously circulating among members of the boating community. That proposal outlined possible hourslong closures of several movable railroad bridges on the Connecticut shoreline on dates tied to World Cup matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The affected bridges would have included the spans over the Connecticut River, Niantic River, Shaw’s Cove, Thames River and Mystic River.
The proposal had raised alarms among charter boat operators, harbor masters and marine industry leaders, who warned the closures could disrupt navigation during the height of the summer season, create safety risks on crowded waterways and hurt businesses that depend on fishing and recreational boating.
Amtrak also said is “exploring all options to move travelers safely and reliably during the World Cup with minimal interruption and inconvenience to local communities, visitors, and other stakeholders and travelers.”
Fans are expected to use rail service along the Northeast Corridor to travel to matches in the Northeast, including in the Boston area, where passengers would use connecting service to reach the stadium in Foxborough.
Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard told NBC Connecticut it was reviewing Amtrak’s request related to the bridge proposal.
“The Coast Guard has received Amtrak’s request for the bridge closures and are reviewing it to reach a final decision. When that decision is made, the Coast Guard will work with Amtrak. We are also aware of the mariners and boating communities concerns regarding this,” the Coast Guard had said.
It was not immediately clear whether Amtrak had formally withdrawn that request or whether the rail operator’s latest statement means the bridge closures are no longer under consideration.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the Coast Guard to request additional information.
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