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MJ29 said:
There's plenty of that housing. Not enough for people in the sub-300K price range.
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Ottumwa is the place for you!

www.zillow.com

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa, IA 52501 | Zillow

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa IA, is a Single Family home that contains 4867 sq ft and was built in 1895.It contains 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.This home last sold for $260,000 in April 2023. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $278,500, which has decreased by $1,003 in the last 30 days.The Rent...
www.zillow.com www.zillow.com
 
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KnappShack said:
Ottumwa is the place for you!

www.zillow.com

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa, IA 52501 | Zillow

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa IA, is a Single Family home that contains 4867 sq ft and was built in 1895.It contains 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.This home last sold for $260,000 in April 2023. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $278,500, which has decreased by $1,003 in the last 30 days.The Rent...
www.zillow.com www.zillow.com
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the tom arnold estate
 
KnappShack said:
Ottumwa is the place for you!

www.zillow.com

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa, IA 52501 | Zillow

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa IA, is a Single Family home that contains 4867 sq ft and was built in 1895.It contains 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.This home last sold for $260,000 in April 2023. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $278,500, which has decreased by $1,003 in the last 30 days.The Rent...
www.zillow.com www.zillow.com
Click to expand...
Look! It has window air conditioners! And hot water!

Admittedly, those two things put it in the top 20% of homes in Ottumwa.

(I used to live in that town, I know whereof I speak)
 
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deadeyededric said:
I'm thinking about moving to New Mexico when interest rates go down. It's about the only place out West affordable still.
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Yeah, my in-laws bought a place out in Big Sky in 2011, and it's been crazy to see how demand has exploded both in Big Sky and Bozeman. I used to recommend it as an alternative to Colorado for folks, but housing is almost impossible to find right now.
 
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ISULibrarian said:
Yeah, my in-laws bought a place out in Big Sky in 2011, and it's been crazy to see how demand has exploded both in Big Sky and Bozeman. I used to recommend it as an alternative to Colorado for folks, but housing is almost impossible to find right now.
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I lived in Billings for most of 2014. Home prices were surpringly getting pretty expensive back then. I looked into a few things in Missoula a few years ago and was shocked how expensive Montana had gotten. Idaho is the same way, particularly if you are looking to move to greater Boise. Maybe Wyoming is the way to go if you like mountains and 4 seasons? I think I prefer the desert SW as I get older.
 
BigBake said:
1,011 results off realtor.com for sub 350k. 3,000+ if I draw a circle around the entire metro.
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How big is that circle? I work in WDM and feel like commuting more than 30 minutes is stupid with gas prices. And what kind of houses are they? I have some parameters, but I promise I'm not looking for a McMansion on a budget. But I'm telling you it's been difficult to find anything for our needs in our budget.
 
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BCClone said:
There was a huge push for exactly what you are mentioning in the discussion back in the early 2000s. Remember what happened in 2008? There is a certain amount of people that just can't handle being home owners. One part of home ownership is maintenance. I have been to city council meetings and read several other towns meetings, where government block grants are needed to just get the utilities lines of houses to a safe level. Many of these houses are already paid off, they just can't afford to maintain them. A rental would be better for them, since they know that they pay X amount and there are no major surprises.

I think we need to push to increase the housing supply, whether apartments, new homes, rental houses, whatever, but don't think home ownership is right for everyone.
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A family moved in across the street. First time homeowners and they told us the husband does not want the responsibilities with home ownership, but the wife wants it for the family (they have HS and early Jr High age). He has said he prefers to make a call to have someone else fix something as part of the rent and indicated he probably won't do anything with the house - leaving it to her. She has been the one to research what mower to buy, made the purchase, is mowing the yard and teaching the kids to do it. It'll be interesting to see if they stay here and/or if their marriage can handle this.
 
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MJ29 said:
How big is that circle? I work in WDM and feel like commuting more than 30 minutes is stupid with gas prices. And what kind of houses are they? I have some parameters, but I promise I'm not looking for a McMansion on a budget. But I'm telling you it's been difficult to find anything for our needs in our budget.
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Not a criticism because we have definitely run into the “parameters and budget” issue, but I think this also may highlight an issue that hasn’t been discussed (as much). My mom’s parents were able to buy a house for a family of four with a single income, but it was a 2-bedroom house. Houses that were acceptable “affordable” homes, even a generation back, would no longer be considered.
 
MJ29 said:
How big is that circle? I work in WDM and feel like commuting more than 30 minutes is stupid with gas prices. And what kind of houses are they? I have some parameters, but I promise I'm not looking for a McMansion on a budget. But I'm telling you it's been difficult to find anything for our needs in our budget.
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Thirty minutes or less is an absolute luxury in so many markets.
 
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MJ29 said:
How big is that circle? I work in WDM and feel like commuting more than 30 minutes is stupid with gas prices. And what kind of houses are they? I have some parameters, but I promise I'm not looking for a McMansion on a budget. But I'm telling you it's been difficult to find anything for our needs in our budget.
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I live in west central iowa- I'm about 20 minutes to waukee and 25 to WDM.

I have the luxury of living close to an on ramp, though so I can jump on the interstate pretty quick.

300K-350K out in rural west central iowa still doesn't get you probably what you want without some big updates. It's crazy what some of these smaller'ish farms are going for.
 
KnappShack said:
Ottumwa is the place for you!

www.zillow.com

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa, IA 52501 | Zillow

309 E 5th St, Ottumwa IA, is a Single Family home that contains 4867 sq ft and was built in 1895.It contains 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.This home last sold for $260,000 in April 2023. The Zestimate for this Single Family is $278,500, which has decreased by $1,003 in the last 30 days.The Rent...
www.zillow.com www.zillow.com
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I love old houses. I wish these older towns had more going on as I'd move there in a heartbeat to buy a gilded age mansion.

I visited a home in Ft. Madison earlier this year for work. House was 12,000 SF and built in the 1920s up on the Mississippi River Bluff. Beautiful home with a great view of the river and eagles flying around the back of the property. They were going to list for something like $600k. Crazy what location will do to a price point!
 
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MJ29 said:
How big is that circle? I work in WDM and feel like commuting more than 30 minutes is stupid with gas prices. And what kind of houses are they? I have some parameters, but I promise I'm not looking for a McMansion on a budget. But I'm telling you it's been difficult to find anything for our needs in our budget.
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I included all the burbs.
 
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