More Places to Buy a Cheap House

See the photo above? That's Altoona Pennsylvania, where you can buy a house for under $30,000. That's the criteria for this page. We don't include them if they have only one or two homes in that price range. A town has to have five or more listings under $30,000, to be included on this page.

Buy a Cheap House Here

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona is in a beautiful setting in the Allegheny Mountains. The population is around 35,000, which means it is large enough to have the usual amenities that most of us want. It is also one of the easiest places on the list to buy a cheap house. The cheapest I found in my last search (August 2007), was $9,900, and there were still a couple dozen homes for sale under $30,000.

2011 Update: There are still dozens of houses for less than $30,000.

2012 Update: Only a few for less than 30k, but dozens for under $50,000.

Keokuk, Iowa

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.

2011 Update: There are still dozens under $50,000 and a few for less than $30,000.

2012 Update: 23 under $30,000 at last search (January 22, 2012).

Independence, Kansas

Independence is located in the southeast corner of the state, and is about 180 miles south of Kansas City and about 120 miles east of Wichita. It has brick-lined streets, a bustling downtown, and an economy based on various industries. It is small (population 9,800), and a good town in which to buy a cheap house. House prices start at less than $20,000 here (several - possibly fixer uppers), and there were still at least six under $30,000 as of my last search (August 2007).

2011 Update: Close to a dozen are still listed for less than $30,000, and dozens more under $50,000.

2012 Update: 17 for less than $30,000 at the moment.

How to Buy Cheap Houses

Buying a cheap house is only half the story of affordable housing. A low price alone doesn't mean you can afford a home. Your mortgage loan is also important. What interest rate will they charge, and what will the payments be? Be sure to educate yourself in this area. You can begin with the page about Financing.

When you're ready to do your own research into affordable towns and the home prices there, see the page on how to Find Your Own Inexpensive Houses. You'll find some links and good resources to get you started. Good luck and go buy a cheap house.

2007 Update: When this site was built in 2004, there were six or seven towns listed on this page. Soon there may be none. How many places can have homes for under $30,000 for much longer?

2011 Update: Houses are cheap again in many places. Find five new additions to our cheap towns list here: Cheap Towns to Live In.

The Cheapest Homes in 2012 - The latest updates and two new places.

For information on other affordable towns see the page Cheap Houses | Nice Towns, which has some examples of towns with homes under $50,000. Our most recent page has nice towns that cost a little more: The Most Affordable Places to Live.