Starter homes on Long Island becoming 'endangered species'

Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon have seen many housing trends in their combined nearly 45 years in the real estate industry.

A current one that's mostly universal — save for the adventurous, handy and patient — is most buyers want a spacious, updated house, needing no immediate upgrades.

However, in a highly competitive market like Long Island, experts say many buyers don't get what they're looking for without sacrificing some wish-list items — or their budgets. But even those traditionally considered ''starter houses'' — with small, dated kitchens, a single bathroom and maybe some storage space — are hard to come by on the Island and can come with high price tags.

The starter home is becoming an endangered species.

— Mickey Conlon, of Compass

"The starter home is becoming an endang