Cheap Houses

Inexpensive Towns

The following is accurate at the time I am writing (2006). Towns often have inexpensive housing because of long-term employment problems, so the houses are probably still inexpensive whenever you are reading this. Prices can change quickly, however, and if you search online, some cheap homes may not be listed.

More on how to do your own research in a moment. This, then, is just a sampling of the towns that are affordable at the moment, based on the criteria laid out in chapter two. By the way, if you change the price criteria from under $50,000 to under $90,000, it would probably triple the number of towns.

Alpena, Michigan

Alpena is located on Thunder Bay on Lake Huron's northwestern coastline, at the mouth of the Thunder Bay River. It has retained much of its architectural tradition from the turn of the last century, with well-preserved houses and buildings - especially in the "old town" section just north of the Thunder Bay River. It has a nice downtown area, next to the marina, where many summer boaters come in for a visit - including scuba divers checking out the Thunder Bay Underwater Preserve just off the coast. Alpena's economy is supported by tourism, cement production, paper processing, automotive and machine products manufacturing. The fishing is great in the area, with ice fishing the most popular form.

We liked the town and the area, although the people in the north are a bit reserved. The last search I did (August 2007) showed dozens of cheap homes for sale, the cheapest priced at $38,000 (three bedroom, might need some work).

Keokuk is in Lee County, in the southeastern corner of Iowa, along Highway 61. This is farm country, but the town is also on the banks of the Mississippi River. Population: 11,400. The cheapest house listed for sale last time I checked (August 2007) was a fixer-upper for $7,500. There are a few others under $20,000, but the nicer ones start around $25,000. There are dozens listed for under $50,000.

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Located south central Oregon and near northern California, Klamath Falls sits on the southern shore of the Upper Klamath Lake, nestled in the Klamath Basin on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Klamath Falls enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. It is only sixty miles south of Crater Lake, and seventy miles north of Mount Shasta. Nearby, there is class 4 white water rafting on the Klamath River, spelunking in the Lava Beds National Park, and viewing of the largest northern US population of wintering Bald Eagles. The area also has the greatest concentration of fall waterfowl on the west coast.

My wife and I spent a morning there, and liked the town immediately. There were many houses under $50,000 listed in Klamath Falls not too long ago, but I think the town is quickly being discovered, so it may soon be off our list. 50 or more homes are still listed for less than $125,000, many under $90,000.

Aberdeen, Washington

The City of Aberdeen is located on the southern edge of the Olympic Peninsula at the convergence of the Wishkah and Chehalis Rivers. The economy of the area was based on logging and fishing, but in the last few years there has had to begin the conversion to an economy based more on tourism.

We loved the area when we drove through in 2002, and we figured it wouldn't be inexpensive for long. We were right, as there are no more $30,000 homes like when we went through. But there still are seven below $100,000 at the moment, the cheapest priced at $64,000 (may be a fixer upper).

On the banks of the Mississippi River, in southeastern Iowa, Fort Madison is small town (population 10,700, full of Victorian homes and antique stores. It also has a riverboat casino during the summer months, which is docked 20 miles upstream in the winter. The crime rate is half of the national average - common with these small towns. There were a dozen or so homes listed for sale under $50,000 as of August, 2007, including a couple fixer-uppers under $20,000.

London, Kentucky

London is centrally located along Interstate 75 between the Daniel Boone & Cumberland Gap Parkways. It is close to five state parks and two national parks, as well as Laurel Lake, known for it's crystal clear waters.

There are a few cheap stick-built houses for sale in the 40's, and some mobile homes on property for less than that. One problem here is that the best deals seem to be on the outskirts of town (we like to live in town.)

Truth-Or-Consequences, New Mexico

The City of Truth or Consequences is in Sierra County, in southwestern New Mexico. The area has some beautiful mountain and desert terrain. Nearby Elephant Butte Lake is the largest lake in the state. The town is on the banks of the Rio Grande River, and minutes from the Gila National Forest. The town used to be called "Hot Springs," until the name was changed in order for the show "Truth Or Consequences" to be filmed there briefly, in the fifties.

We have been there more than once for the hot mineral springs. A year ago there were still more than twenty homes for sale in or around town, for under $50,000. Now there is one.

This Chapter Continues Here: Inexpensive Towns