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Housing inventory risingAn increase in homes to choose from is good news for buyers.
Buy a home near a star schoolGive your kid a shot at the best education with one of these homes.
Midcentury-modern marvelsThese sleek homes may be 60 years old, but their appeal is surging.
World's tallest places to liveHeight sells — but who's buying?
10 opulent party padsThese homes would befit 'The Great Gatsby' or any reveler.
Not for sale? Not a problemWith a tight inventory, agents are coaxing homeowners to sell.
World's densest megacitiesThese cities have the most people packed into them per square mile.
Mega-homes in the priciest ZIP codesCheck out homes for sale in the most expensive ZIP codes in the country.
Beautiful U.S. mansions for saleBuy yourself some elbow room with one of these expansive homes.

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Oil, banks, prescription drugs! If your not part of one of these, your a slave. Bullets, blood, and lots of both is the only thing that will change this ongoing decline. Elections, voting etc... all fraud. The system never worked, it never will. It's designed for the social elite, not the working class.
Hey all-that Grow the **** up and stop being a Pussy you little Fag. (This message is brought to you by all your friends at MSNBC thanks have a nice day loser.)
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What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
By Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate
You likely hear all the time about "median home prices" and their periodic rise and fall. But do you ever wonder what a median home really looks like, in your city and around the country?
Look no further.
Here are existing single-family homes in a dozen markets nationwide that are for sale at each market's median price, according to the National Association of Realtors' first-quarter price report.
"Median" means right in the middle: Half of the homes in these markets cost more, and half cost less. The median price increased from the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of this year in 74 of the 146 metropolitan areas that the NAR surveyed. In the fourth quarter of last year, only 29 areas showed year-on-year gains, it says.
Still, would-be buyers shouldn't fret too much: The NAR's Housing Affordability Index rose to a record high in the first quarter. The index gauges household purchasing power by examining the median sale price, median household income and average mortgage interest rate. In other words, it still may be a really good time to buy a home.
NOTE: All descriptive information is courtesy of listing agents. Properties were on the market and listed as available at the time of publication in June 2012 unless otherwise noted.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
San Diego
Median sale price: $359,500
Change from 2011: -4.1%
This home: $360,000
San Diego's median price is still up there, even if it's down a bit from the first quarter of 2011. This home,a short sale, is on a corner lot near major freeways, shopping and schools. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house has an open floor plan with spacious bedrooms. The master bath has a whirlpool tub and walk-in closets.
- Realtor.com: Find other median-priced homes in San Diego
- MSN Money: Hot home deals on short sales
- Facebook users: 'Like' MSN Real Estate today
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Dayton, Ohio
Median sale price: $86,600
Change from 2011: +11%
This home: $87,000
Dayton hit some rough times during the Great Recession. The city's home prices are bouncing back, but houses are still affordable.
This home, built in 1924 and inhabited by the original owner until 2007, has been completely renovated. It has new siding, windows, roof, shutters, bathrooms, carpeting and water heater. The revamped kitchen has custom cabinets, ceramic tile and stainless-steel appliances.
Outside the four-bedroom, one-bathroom home is a large front porch. Peony bushes planted by the original owner's parents border the 1,541-square-foot home.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Sacramento, Calif.
Median sale price: $164,900
Change from 2011: -2.6%
This home: $165,000
Prices have really bounced around in California's capital, which means you can still get a lot for your money — such as this home, a short sale.
The 1,698-square-foot, three-bedroom and three-bathroom home was built in 2006 and still shows like a model home. Downstairs, the kitchen, living room and dining room flow together, with hardwood floors throughout. All of the bedrooms are upstairs.
- Realtor.com: Find other single-family homes for around $165,000
- Video: Peek inside celebrity homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': First-time homebuyers shut out in some cities
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
El Paso, Texas
Median sale price: $134,800
Change from 2011: +2.5%
This home: $135,000
Whoa — talk about bargain living in the Southwest. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home on El Paso's Eastside offers a lot for the money.
The house has tinted windows and blinds to save on energy costs. The kitchen has granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. The backyard has a pergola and flowers.
The 1,424-square-foot home, built in 2009, also has a two-car garage.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Appleton, Wis.
Median sale price: $107,700
Change from 2011: -6.8%
This home: $109,000
Appleton is a city of 78,000 people in eastern Wisconsin. This home is like new — if you love 1959.
It's great for buyers who like a retro look and solid, old-school construction. The previous owners never had children or pets, so the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home is gently lived in. The owners also had a second stove in the basement, and the wife cooked all of her meals downstairs, so her once top-of-the-line pink appliances in the kitchen are like new.
The 1,944-square-foot home is brick construction and sits on a large lot.
- Realtor.com: Find a median-priced home in Appleton
- MSN Money: Hot home deals on short sales
- Facebook users: 'Like' MSN Real Estate today
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Salem, Ore.
Median sale price: $137,200
Change from 2011: -10.6%
This home: $137,500
Built in 1917, this three-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Oregon's capital has touches of a bygone era. The 1,384-square-foot house has refinished wood floors and a bright, open living area with a wood stove.
Outside is a wraparound porch, and the landscaped yard with front metal fence has plenty of room for a garden to sprout.
The home also is close to bus lines and downtown.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Tulsa, Okla.
Median sale price: $124,000
Change from 2011: +0.7%
This home: $124,000
Check out what you get for your money in Tulsa: This 1957 ranch-style home in the Midtown area has been thoroughly remodeled, with a huge, revamped kitchen, new heating and air conditioning, and a new deck outside the sunroom.
The three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home also has security and sprinkler systems, as well as a privacy fence out back. The house spans 1,906 square feet.
- Realtor.com: See other median-priced homes in Tulsa
- Video: Peek inside celebrity homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': First-time homebuyers shut out in some cities
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Portland, Ore.
Median sale price: $208,600
Change from 2011: -2.2%
This home: $210,000
Greetings from the high-tech Silicon Forest of Beaverton, Ore., in the damp, fir-cloaked outskirts of Portland.
This home, built in 1994, is a mile from a light-rail station and from Beaverton's shops and restaurants. It's just 10 miles from downtown Portland. The ranch-style home has a 32-foot-long deck with large trees surrounding it. Inside the three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,492-square-foot house is a contemporary, open floor plan with a lot of windows and vaulted ceilings to help keep that Northwest gloom at bay. The gas fireplace doesn't hurt, either.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Fargo, N.D.
Median sale price: $143,900
Change from 2011: 3.2%
This home: $144,900
Fargo has ridden a roller coaster in sale prices in the past few years, but the trend is heading upward.
This four-bedroom, two-bathroom home shows that your money really does go further up north. The 1,812-square-foot house, built in 1998, has a fenced-in backyard and a large wooden deck. Inside is central air conditioning for those warm Great Plains summers.
NOTE: This property is no longer listed.
- Realtor.com: Find other median-priced homes in Fargo
- MSN Money: Hot home deals on short sales
- Facebook users: 'Like' MSN Real Estate today
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Baltimore
Median sale price: $218,100
Change from 2011: +2.8%
This home: $219,000
This handsome little Cape Cod, built in 1939, is on a tree-lined street in Baltimore's Lake Walker neighborhood. The three-bedroom, one-bathroom home has a newer roof and appliances, as well as air conditioning and an updated heating system. It also has well-maintained hardwood floors and a wood-burning fireplace. Upstairs is a finished attic, and downstairs is a full basement with lots of potential.
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Median sale price: $135,900
Change from 2011: +5%
This home: $129,000
Cedar Rapids is bouncing back. This home was built in 1941 and has some of yesteryear's charms, including a built-in breakfast table and china cabinet, shelving and a phone nook; you'll have to explain to Junior what that is.
Other classic touches in the three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home include a fireplace, Tiffany-style ceiling-fan lamps, shutters and glass doorknobs. French doors lead from a formal dining room to a large screened porch, and the back of the 1,651-square-foot house overlooks a wooded yard.
- Realtor.com: See what else you can get for the median price in Cedar Rapids
- Video: Peek inside celebrity homes for sale
- On our blog, 'Listed': First-time homebuyers shut out in some cities
What you can buy for the median home price in 12 cities
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Median sale price: $180,300
Change from 2011: -2.2%
This home: $180,000
This house in downtown Colorado Springs was built nearly 120 years ago, in 1894. Its 1,743 square feet are home to four bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a claw-foot tub.
The upside to its downtown location? It's close to everything. The downside? It's surrounded by asphalt. But a future owner could convert it to a commercial property.













