What $500,000 Will Get You

As Ed's job applications have gone out to universities across the county, we've had fun daydreaming about buying our first house. Of course, depending on where we settle, that looks pretty different. For fun, here is what $500,000 (our relative house budget, depending on where we actually settle) will get you:

Manhattan, KS (Kansas State University)

$499,500
5 bed/ 5 bath/ 5,800 Sq Ft
$86


Norfolk, VA (Old Dominion University)

$499,000
4 Bed/3 Bath/ 2,200 square feet
Across the street from the beach
$227 per square foot

Boulder, CO (University of Colorado)

$505,000
3 bed/ 3 bath/ 2,403 Sq Ft
$210

Oxnard, CA (CSU Channel Islands)

$495,000

3 Bed/ 3 Bath/ 2,464 Sq Ft

$201 per Square Foot

Auburn, AL (Auburn University)

$499,000
6 Bed/ 5 Bath/ Sq Footage not known, but it looks big!
.57 corner acre lot with basement


San Jose, CA (CSU San Jose)

3 bed/ 2 bath/ 1,285 sq feet
$499,000
$388

Columbia, MO (University of Missouri)

(I think this one is my favorite!)
$499,000
6 bed/4 bath/ 5,156 Sq Ft
$97

Saratoga Springs, NY (Empire State College)

$499,900
4 Bed/ 4 Bath/ 4171 Square Feet
$120 per square foot

Tempe, AZ (Arizona State)

$495,000 (a note - I do not want to live in the southwest, and there were not a lot of homes to choose from)
6 bed/4 bath/ 3,488 Sq Ft
$131

Fresno, CA (CSU Fresno)

$500,000
4 bed/3 bath/ 3,001 sq ft
$167 per sq ft


Mountain View, CA (West Ed - Non Profit)

$499,900
2 bed/3 bath/ 1,171 sq ft
$427

Sigh.....we live in such an expensive area!!! We are definitely torn between wanting to live somewhere affordable and loving the area we're in.

More likely than not, the decision won't be entirely in our hands, since it all depends of what jobs Ed is offered.

Still, it's fun to browse!