Starter homes are back in US, but there's still a catch for first-time buyers

For millions of first-time homebuyers, getting onto the property ladder has felt increasingly out of reach in recent years. High prices, rising mortgage rates and a severe shortage of affordable homes have made even modest properties difficult to buy.There is now some relief. A new report by Realtor.com shows that the supply of starter homes has begun improving, giving budget-conscious buyers more choices than they had during the peak of the housing market frenzy.However, affordability remains a major challenge, and the recovery is uneven across different regions.More affordable homes are returning to marketAccording to Realtor.com's latest analysis, there are now around 220,000 more starter homes available for sale than four years ago, while prices in this segment have fallen 4.2% from recent highs.The report defines a starter home as a property priced below $350,000 nationally or below 80% of a local market's median listing price, making it an entry point…