[EXPERT] Is the Starter Home Dead? A New York Times Real Estate Journalist Weighs In

The housing market is constantly making headlines, whether it’s rising home prices, high interest rates, or a shortage of homes for sale. But today, we’re hearing from someone who covers the topic for one of the most influential publications in the world: the New York Times. Real estate journalist, Heather Senison, who wrote the full-page feature on Second Home First, is here to share what she’s seeing from today’s homebuyers—and where homeownership could be headed next. This Week’s Expert Guest: Heather Senison is an award-winning real estate journalist who writes for The New York Times. She takes us behind the scenes—what made my pitch stand out to her, what surprised her the most once she started reporting, and what journalists actually consider when they choose what (or who) to feature… and what or who to cut.  Tune in to Learn: –Is the starter home dead? –Why she doesn’t believe today’s housing market is a bubble –What she thinks could change the way we buy homes in the years ahead. –How journalists evaluate sources, build stories, and decide what makes it into a major publication Key links: –Second Home First Academy: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/academy *Use code PODCAST for 40% off –Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com/#subscribe  –Visit the website: BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com –Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @BuyYourSecondHomeFirst –Find us on Substack: SecondHomeFirst.Substack.com  –Say Hi! Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com (mailto:Hello@BuyYourSecondHomeFirst.com)  A Special Thank You To Our Sponsors: Lodgify: https://lodgify.com/?afmc=28y For a limited time, click the link and enter code SHF-60 for 60% off their Professional and Ultimate plans. *Offer good September 21-30, 2026 Somerled: https://form.jotform.com/252193985491065?howDid=Referral&typeA19=Second%20Home%20First  Use the link provided to schedule your free consultation call. Listeners of SHF also get $1,000 off virtual design & $3,000 off design & project management services. Turno: https://go.turno.com/second_home_first  Use the link provided to get $25 off your first clean. Flytographer: https://www.Flytographer.com/SHF   Use code SHF25 for $25 off your first shoot PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/signup/?referral=secondhomefirst  Use code SecondHomeFirst (all one word) for a 30-day free trial, plus $10 off your first invoice