I hate the term "starter home". It commits 3 sins at once.

1. Assuming that a house you buy is not really going to be for a lifelong timeframe

2. Assuming that everyone wants to amass houses

3. Treating the house not just as a commodity, but either as a "collectible" or as a disposable "learning canvas".

All of this ties in with the practice of building houses that are only meant to last for 40-50 years.