Murphy101 Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 And all *I* can think, is we didn't look at anything above $50k until we had 8 kids. Still feels like moved into a mansion. I've been looking at houses with one of my grown kids. For fun for now, just to get ideas on what he likes and it keeps him motivated to keep saving, kwim? He is looking at $50-70k houses and they are pretty decent. Certainly not slums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 We're south of Seattle, and there is nothing here you can get for $150,000.....not even a condo or mobile home. try redfin. there are lots of homes and condos (and of course, mobile homes) for under $150K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Hmm... A very run-down country cottage. One bedroom flat in Edinburgh. I don't think you could get anything. There are occasionally small units in the worst part of town at $169 ish. They are usually ex motel units where both doors open onto driveways. If I allow for the exchange rate you could get a little more but it would just mean on the edge of the bad area with a tiny garden. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonesinIndiana Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 We're selling our house for $150,000. For that, you will get 1450 sq ft, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath, 1 car garage, very large yard(for this area) in west central Florida. Nice, quiet neighborhood 3 miles from the beach. PM if you're interested! We are motivated!! ;-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 150K here wouldn't even get you a small lot (like a 1/4 acre). Lots with houses that are being sold as tear-downs go for way more than that. It might get you a tiny condo. Maybe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 That would buy a run-down house in a dead town in Woop-woop, somewhere with zero job opportunities within a 100 mile radius. Bargain! And a lovely town it is too. Come visit some time. I'm afraid I can't offer accommodation unless you're ok with a tent in the backyard. Or maybe you can sleep on the kitchen floor if you don't mind sharing a room with me. :laugh: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 He is looking at $50-70k houses and they are pretty decent. Certainly not slums. That'd be cheap for a car parking space in my state! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 This is an example, I think a pretty typical one, of what $150K will get you in east Albuquerque: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9626-Towner-Ave-NE-Albuquerque-NM-87112/6774435_zpid/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 But this is by far the most famous house in east Albuquerque: https://roadtrippers.com/us/albuquerque-nm/points-of-interest/walter-whites-house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greta Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Comments and thoughts? That was fun - I love older homes. Interesting range of styles. I'd never even heard of those towns before, so I'm guessing the prices are so low because there's no employement nearby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer132 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 In central Oklahoma, you can buy a newly built 3 bd cookie-cutter home, maybe with an office, in a good school district for 150k or maybe even a little less. You could buy an older 3 bd, with a converted garage in a safe, but rundown, neighborhood for $75k. In the historic district...well, it all depends on the condition of the home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 There's nothing available here at that price. There are lots of multi-generational households. ETA, I did find two 200-300 sq. foot studios. 😳 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solascriptura Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Here, one bedroom foreclosures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Exactly nothing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest finnymo Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 In my county (just south of the SF bay area)? One 2 bedroom tear-down listed as unsafe to enter, and exactly one mobile home. This explains why we currently rent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I looked up some listings in my town. The cheapest was $350,000 for a somewhat run-down looking, 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, 1229 square feet on a really really small lot, but on a pond. Most expensive is $2,395,000 for a 6 bedroom, 6 and 2 1/2 bathrooms, 6,341 square foot on 3 1/2 acres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 $150,000 would get you a 2000+ sq ft on 1/2-1+ acres, 3-4 beds 2-3 baths, all brick, completely remodeled with new appliances and maybe corian counter tops, and 2-3 car garage. You would be with in 1 hour or less of a semi-major metro area(near 1 million people counting suburbs). What it also gets you is a Walmart and nothing else within 30 minute drive, a dinky little library, and nothing to do. We're so bored. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Here you could get an outdoor parking space and a little change (maybe). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 In our area, you can $150k buys a small, older 2 br condo or, possibly, a foreclosure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The article is misleading, implying that there are areas all over the country where a beautiful house can be had for $150,000. Essentially, for $150,000 you can have a nice house, in an area with no jobs, or a house within commuting distance of a reasonable job market that needs another $150,000 to bring it up to code. It's quite predictable what a lack of employment will do to an areas housing market. You cannot get nice houses, in nice areas, with good jobs and schools, for $150,000. Supply and demand raises the price. I agree with you. Except there are some cities where this is still possible.We used to live in K.C. The second house we owned there comes up at around $160,000 on zillow (3 bedrooms + office, 2.5 baths). It was a very nice neighborhood and very good schools. There is also a good variety of jobs in K.C. We live in a nice area of S.CA now. $150,000 will buy you nothing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Nothing. Not even dirt. You need several times that to get a room. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 try redfin. there are lots of homes and condos (and of course, mobile homes) for under $150K. I see mostly foreclosure auction listings in that price range for any single family home or townhouse. My brother and his husband bought the crappiest still livable and mortgageable family sized fixer in S. King County close to when the market was at its lowest. It was still $200+k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 And all *I* can think, is we didn't look at anything above $50k until we had 8 kids. Still feels like moved into a mansion. I've been looking at houses with one of my grown kids. For fun for now, just to get ideas on what he likes and it keeps him motivated to keep saving, kwim? He is looking at $50-70k houses and they are pretty decent. Certainly not slums. Where do you live?! Here, you couldn't buy a meth lab for that price. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Where do you live?! Here, you couldn't buy a meth lab for that price. As I have established, there's always the option to live in a floating shed. It may be a shed but it floats, so there's that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I looked at the biggest town in my state and you can buy some adorable and clean homes with 4 or 5 bedrooms and 2000+ sq ft for that. It's really, really all about locations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The first house we ever bought was for $150K and it was in Los Angeles County in the year 2000. It was 1400 sq. ft. and backed up to the mountains. Many time we wish we had kept that house. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I see mostly foreclosure auction listings in that price range for any single family home or townhouse. My brother and his husband bought the crappiest still livable and mortgageable family sized fixer in S. King County close to when the market was at its lowest. It was still $200+k well, not in king co. I think she was looking further south - and with trulia. nothing at all shows up on trulia. we're all wondering how long it will take niece and her dh to realize their dreams of 5 acres on the eastside with reasonable commute to seattle (they don't want to go south - they don't even want to go that far east) and build a nice house for $400K isn't even a pipe dream. someone did get them to come down to 3acres . . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Here is a similar article but for 1 million dollar houses around the world. http://www.blogto.com/city/2015/01/what_a_1_million_house_looks_in_toronto_vs_other_cities/ last year on my street - a developer tore down one house, and built five houses. all over $1m. (two sold after they were finished - the others during construction.) average modern generic tract mcmansion. not even elite high end appliances. there is one more piece of dirt with one house - that can be subdivided into six lots. the original owner sill lives there. he has to be in his 90's. his son says he wants the property - but I expect when his father dies, it will be sold to a developer. my house has something they'll never have . . . a view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Perhaps a nice, sturdy dog house...with a slightly raised floor inside so you don't sit on the dirt. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 well, not in king co. I think she was looking further south - and with trulia. nothing at all shows up on trulia. we're all wondering how long it will take niece and her dh to realize their dreams of 5 acres on the eastside with reasonable commute to seattle (they don't want to go south - they don't even want to go that far east) and build a nice house for $400K isn't even a pipe dream. someone did get them to come down to 3acres . . . . . Wowza, that is some dream slash fantasy. They can't even get the land for that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 well, not in king co. I think she was looking further south - and with trulia. nothing at all shows up on trulia. we're all wondering how long it will take niece and her dh to realize their dreams of 5 acres on the eastside with reasonable commute to seattle (they don't want to go south - they don't even want to go that far east) and build a nice house for $400K isn't even a pipe dream. someone did get them to come down to 3acres . . . . . The ones I saw listed were in Algona. But I didn't look to see if they were foreclosures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Yes, DC or Seattle area, nothing. I heard that you can get a variety of houses for $1 each in Detroit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Not true! A single family home, in Seattle, for under $150,000! Enjoy all 590 square feet! https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/5541-S-Leo-St-98178/home/178223/nwmls-762431 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Not true! A single family home, in Seattle, for under $150,000! Enjoy all 590 square feet! https://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/5541-S-Leo-St-98178/home/178223/nwmls-762431 Don't you look down on 569 sf (wiggling a finger at you). Square footage in triple digits is totally acceptable here. :) Lucy, I don't know about the floating shed, but I know people who live on boats. Very normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 In my actual town, there are several mobile homes, a bunch of condos in crummy complexes between $100K and $150K, and two houses. Both are so far over that they're practically in the rundown city next door, both are being sold "as is," and neither have photos of the inside. One bargain has been on Realtor.com for almost 6 months, and the other, a "legal two family," has been listed for almost two years. Hmmm... But this is by far the most famous house in east Albuquerque: https://roadtrippers.com/us/albuquerque-nm/points-of-interest/walter-whites-house I often wonder if the owners are ever sorry they let the producers use their house for the show. I can only imagine the hassle they have to put up with now--free pizza notwithstanding! As I have established, there's always the option to live in a floating shed. It may be a shed but it floats, so there's that. Ooohh, claustrophobia AND motion sickness, all for one low price! The first house we ever bought was for $150K and it was in Los Angeles County in the year 2000. It was 1400 sq. ft. and backed up to the mountains. We many days say we should have kept that house. Eeep. Have you looked up what it's worth now? We sold our little condo outside Manhattan years ago when we (OK, I) couldn't take the noise anymore and were worried that the hospital that was under construction would increase traffic and bring lots of ambulance noise. Our upstairs neighbors hung on for an extra year and sold for an extra $100K. I just looked it up now and it sold in 2013 for $383K. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Yikes. Thank goodness for the sheds and that trailer thing holding the cottage up! It's described in the particulars as a development opportunity. The expectation would be that the purchaser would raze it and build a new house. Building on an existing footprint almost guarantees you planning permission to build. So that's £100K for the plot, then whatever for the demolition and about £150K to build a modest house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Eeep. Have you looked up what it's worth now? We sold our little condo outside Manhattan years ago when we (OK, I) couldn't take the noise anymore and were worried that the hospital that was under construction would increase traffic and bring lots of ambulance noise. Our upstairs neighbors hung on for an extra year and sold for an extra $100K. I just looked it up now and it sold in 2013 for $383K. Sigh. Insanity!! One of my kids lives in a small building (two units) , also outside of Manhattan, which sold in 2014 for 1.4 million. (With mold issues, even. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 There are a ton of $150k options here (mostly 3bd/2ba, .5-1 acre types) but it IS a land of super-commuters. There are some jobs here, but only a few main industries. Driving is a lifestyle, not just for employment. I do about 200 miles/wk for homeschool related activities. It will go way up when base/softball season starts next month (for 3 kids!) But it's a gorgeous area!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 If you spent some time looking $150,000 here would get you in a well maintained, move in ready (but maybe could benefit from a bit of updating) older home, or probably a smallish (1300-1500 sq. ft.) new cookie cutter on a tiny lot. You'd have lots of nice townhomes to choose from. Job market is fairly good, and most commutes are 30 minutes or less. Things are spread out, but the metropolitan area population is about 1.5 million. So most people can find something to do for entertainment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I went to zillow for a nearby town (redfin wasn't working) and put in 75K - 150K, 2+ bedrooms, single family homes, must be for sale, and got 48 listings, several of which would be candidates I'd look at if in the market. Changing it to 3+ bedrooms reduces that number to 40. Current unemployment rate is 5.1%. There are oodles of shopping and dining options - not as many as a large city - but far more than most rural areas. Many people do commute to places farther away for work, but that's because they can find housing here for a reasonable price. The majority work locally (based upon the students at our school - well - their parents). I like living in a lower COL area that still has various amenities. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 I live in a city in the Midwest, you can get homes for that price here, just not in the best area. You can also get homes for that price in several suburbs if you are willing to drive 30-45minutes. I'm thankful were we are in a lower COL area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Nearly nothing here. That's the price for a buildable lot. Or a foreclosure that is a hot mess. Or an extreme do-over fixer. If you aren't handy, you gonna get nothin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The house next door to me sold for 147.900 in January (according to Trulia - I didn't ask the new neighbors). It's a 4 BR, 3 BA and just over 2,000 sq. ft..The houses in this area were all built in the late 60's. It's very similar to ours and though we have one less bedroom we have a bit more square footage. This area got a double whammy when the housing bubble burst AND the shuttle program ended around the same time. ETA: Though the homes are older, this is a very nice area with low crime, well maintained homes (no HOA), and pretty good schools. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 The house shown for GA for 150,000 would be in a town sooo far away from any major city. I always wonder how people afford to live in those towns 3 or 4 hours away from corporate jobs, etc. OR it would be in a bad, run down area. That size house would be about 250,000 in my GA historic town, 30 minutes south of Atlanta. 150,000 gets you a 3bed 2 bath 1500 sq ft house with 2 car garage, 1 acre of land and about 30 minutes from your closest grocery store or shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 That money would get you a lot of older houses here in Elgin, IL.. It is more than our foursquare, 5-bedroom from 1906 cost or is worth today! Back where I grew up, Orange, CA, it won't even get you a small condo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Around here 150,000 will buy you a decent house, probably around 1500-2000sf (larger in my town), decent neighborhood. You could buy a historic home for less if you're willing to put in work, more if you want move in ready on an older home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
readinmom Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Couldn't touch anything here with that price. Results = 0. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Don't you look down on 569 sf (wiggling a finger at you). Square footage in triple digits is totally acceptable here. :) I actually love tiny houses. Before I was married I had a 970 square foot condo I adored. (Much more practical layout than our current house.) But a $150,000 house in Seattle isn't exactly the Italianate mansion from the slide show! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Don't you look down on 569 sf (wiggling a finger at you). Square footage in triple digits is totally acceptable here. :) Lucy, I don't know about the floating shed, but I know people who live on boats. Very normal. I know a lot of people who live on boats and houseboats, this being Seattle (though only a few with kids). That houseboat I call the floating shed though is almost the exact design of a ready to build shed I have seen in people's yards here and as such, paired with the price tag, cracks me up. It is modified to have an actual door. To get a non-floating SF home in that area, you are looking at 8-10 times that price for a tiny near tear down. So it is a veritable bargain. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 We bought our home for $16,000 twenty years ago. We put a lot of work into it, and today, it would probably sell for $85,000. It is a lovely 2-story Victorian home. I don't remember square footage, but it would probably be considered an average medium-size home for that era. It worked fine for our family of 7. It has three screened-in porches (two downstairs and one upstairs), one living room that merges into a formal dining room, a small kitchen (big enough to cook, but not big enough for a table, but mostly because there are three doors into it so no nice corner to tuck a table into), a bath and a half, and a small, fenced-in yard. Also, a den upstairs, which we used as a bedroom when all the kids were home. Now it's our TV room. It has an old, unfinished basement (for storage and art projects only :), and a walk-in attic (for storage only), with a separate 2-car garage. We live in a small town (5,000) in the Midwest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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