Hear that? That’s the sound of opportunity knocking, and it’s at your doorstep in the form of fixer-uppers for sale. Priced as low as $54 per square foot and representing awesome locations — from the mountains of Idyllwild, CA, to the soft sands of Santa Rosa Beach, FL — each has the potential to be the home of your dreams. Just be sure to bring some elbow grease to accompany your visions of gourmet kitchens and designer baths.
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Adobe abode in ABQ: $100,000, 710 15th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Set back from the street and shielded by an adobe wall, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow in downtown Albuquerque boasts both privacy and potential at an asking price of $100K. The home is on the smaller size at 705 square feet, but the fenced-in, 0.15-acre yard offers additional living space (and opportunity to enjoy that warm desert air and sunshine). Better still, historic Old Town Albuquerque’s many restaurants, boutiques, and cultural attractions are only a half-mile to the west, while the central business district is just east of the home.
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Little price tag in Little Rock: $114,000, 521 Springwood Drive, Little Rock, AR 72211
One of many split-level homes nestled along a tree-lined street in the Birchwood section of West Little Rock, this fixer-upper is priced at just $54 per square foot. Built in 1966, the home offers four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a spacious eat-in kitchen adjacent to an enclosed sunroom-carport combo. The multipurpose room adds bonus living space to the home’s 2,105 square feet, and it overlooks a fully fenced-in backyard. The neighborhood is largely residential, but I-630 West, which leads to downtown Little Rock, is less than a mile away, for a total one-way commute of just over 7 miles.
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Big-basement bungalow in Chicago: $185,000, 6235 S. Komensky Ave., Chicago, IL 60629
Southwestern Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood is known as the home of Ford City Mall, the largest enclosed shopping center outside of downtown Chi-Town. The ‘hood is also home to this six-bedroom brick bungalow, which dates back to 1923 and is full of happy surprises. Think hardwood floors under the carpeting, a fenced-in backyard, a detached garage, and a huge basement that spans the entire length of the 2,400-square-foot house. The kitchen could use some updating, but that’s a great excuse to explore West Lawn’s countless international eateries while you’re at it.
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What a find in Walla Walla: $199,500, 804 E. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362
Built in 1906, this four-bedroom house occupies a sizable corner lot in Walla Walla, a town in southeast Washington state known for its wineries, wheat fields, and community pride. Enter through the home’s front portico to find a gracious, light-filled space with hardwood floors and arched entryways. Main Street is less than 1 mile away from the 3,239-square-foot home, putting you near the town’s hub (and close to the best shopping, eateries, and even seasonal farmers markets)..
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Rustic retreat in the San Jacinto Mountains: $273,000, 53290 Deerfoot Lane, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Have a penchant for rock climbing, hiking, and peace and quiet? Scoop up this cheery cabin in Idyllwild. Nestled amid towering pine and cedar trees in the San Jacinto Mountains, the deck-fronted cabin hosts two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a wood-burning stove, and an open kitchen. It’s equally appealing as a comfy primary residence or a serene vacation home. Cathedral ceilings help the sun-filled cabin seem larger than its 1,152 square feet, and the property comes with a garage and a metal shed to store your fishing and camping equipment: 470-acre Lake Hemet is about 8 miles away.
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Picture yourself in the Panhandle: $399,000, 21 First Court, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
One of 16 beach neighborhoods in South Walton, a postcard-perfect coastal region in the Florida Panhandle, Santa Rosa Beach paints a pretty picture with sugar-white sand, turquoise water, and epic sunsets. The asking price of this 2,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home grants you access to all of the above, plus easy access to practice your swing. The 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course of Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club is five minutes away by foot. When you’re finished, put your feet up on the covered, wraparound porch and listen for the sound of waves crashing upon the beach 1 mile away.
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Live it up in the Lowcountry: $425,000, 1483 Barbara St., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Oak floors, birch kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, a gas fireplace, a huge sunroom — there’s a lot to love about this 1,413-square-foot bungalow in the coastal town of Mount Pleasant. Built in 1959 and occupying a large corner lot, the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home also excels in terms of location. The Old Village, the town’s oldest waterfront neighborhood, is replete with parks, restaurants, and shopping to explore. But the best part just might be its central location, with easy access to Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and the Ravenel Bridge that connects it to nearby Charleston, SC.
