{"id":180349,"date":"2025-01-06T14:34:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T21:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=180349"},"modified":"2025-01-06T14:34:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T21:34:32","slug":"counties-where-you-can-buy-real-estate-for-100k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/counties-where-you-can-buy-real-estate-for-100k","title":{"rendered":"In These 11 Counties You Can Still Buy Homes For $100k and Under"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It doesn\u2019t matter how many doors you have or how much <\/span>cash <\/span>flow<\/span><\/a> you generate; if your expenses outweigh your income, you will never be a successful investor. The key to investing wisely, especially at the start of your journey, is to keep expenses as low as possible and reinvest your profits <\/span>back<\/span> into your business. That\u2019s easier said than done, especially in this day and age of<\/span> high home prices<\/span><\/a>, interest rates, and insurance costs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are pockets of the U.S.\u2014mainly in the South and Midwest\u2014where affordable housing is not an oxymoron, and you won\u2019t see bullets flying past your head if you move there. In fact, in these bucolic pockets of the U.S. heartland, you might even be able to find yourself a home for under $100,000. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For remote workers who don\u2019t need to commute into the city or full-time investors looking to build a local portfolio, living here could be the investing kick-start you need. Let\u2019s dig deeper.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Wayne County, Michigan<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Detroit<\/span><\/a>, which has seen its fortunes change dramatically in the last decade, is in Wayne County. While not all the county has experienced the same turnaround as the Motor City, Redford, a Detroit suburb of 50,000, has a diverse population, <\/span>good schools<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>an abundance of<\/span> parks, new restaurants, galleries, and music venues.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, you can buy a historic fixer-upper for under $100,000. As a landlord, you can <\/span>get started<\/span> buying houses with all cash for what you would pay as a down payment elsewhere. For example, <\/span>here\u2019s a turnkey home<\/span><\/a> for $99,000 with a long-term tenant paying $950\/month.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Jefferson County, Arkansas<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Offering Southern charm at an affordable price, Jefferson County contains older homes on spacious lots in small cities like Pine Bluff that make sense for owner-occupants and investors alike. This<\/span> fixer-upper four-bedroom bungalow for $47,000<\/span><\/a> is a prime example. There\u2019s also a strong local community, many events like the King Cotton Holiday Festival, and scenic outdoor spots like Lake Saracen.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Trumbull County, Ohio<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The county seat of Warren, in Trumbull, northeast Ohio, has many ranch and historic homes<\/span> priced at under $100,000<\/span><\/a>. Along with parks and lakes, the proximity to <\/span>Cleveland<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Pittsburgh <\/span><\/a>means that sports events, shopping, and entertainment are easily accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Macon County, Illinois<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another Midwestern find, Macon County, is home to the city of <\/span>Decatur<\/span><\/a>\u2014the county seat\u2014and a great place to find a very affordable home and\/or start your investing career. It\u2019s hard to believe that this updated, move-in-ready four-bedroom<\/span> home is only $125,000<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For car enthusiasts, Decatur is the home of the <\/span>Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum<\/span><\/a>, while the<\/span> Rock Springs Conservation Area and Nature Center<\/span><\/a> offer biking and hiking paths and trails.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Montgomery County, Alabama <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steeped in Southern history, Alabama has recently become an investment hot spot. In <\/span>Montgomery<\/span><\/a>, the state capital, you\u2019ll find ranch homes and cottages for well under $100,000, such as<\/span> this move-in ready, three-bedroom home for $69,000<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to live in a picture-perfect neighborhood, the Craftsman cottages in <\/span>Capitol Heights<\/span><\/a>, near Midtown Montgomery, have an average value of $103,000. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Erie County, Pennsylvania<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lakeside living, low pricing, and a downtown experiencing a revitalization push make unassuming <\/span>Erie, Pennsylvania<\/span><\/a>, a great place to live and invest in real estate, as<\/span> these options<\/span><\/a> demonstrate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. St. Clair County, Michigan<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Offering scenic Midwestern small-town charm with endless investment possibilities, St. Clair contains river cities like Port Huron, which <\/span>offer<\/span> incredible value for your money. This spacious five-bedroom, two-bath single-family home, priced at <\/span>$126,900<\/span><\/a>, is zoned for two units and only needs modest upgrades to be livable and rental-ready<\/span>. <\/span>House<\/span> hack<\/span><\/a> by living in one expense-free <\/span>by<\/span> renting the other.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Sedgwick County, Kansas<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Home to <\/span>Wichita<\/span><\/a> and its famous lineman, <\/span>$100,000 goes a long way <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> if you want a ranch home with many small-town charms\u2014museums, food festivals, and parks\u2014a good job market and <\/span>good<\/span> schools.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Peoria County, Illinois<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While much of America faces an affordability crisis, it\u2019s possible to comfortably raise a family in <\/span>Peoria<\/span><\/a> in a home like this six-bedroom, three-kitchen, three-and-a-half-bath home, which costs<\/span> $126,900<\/span><\/a>. That price also comes with the possibility of rental income.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city has a 2,000-acre wildlife park, two symphony orchestras, and a riverfront festival in the summer. However, pick your spot carefully because some Peoria neighborhoods can be <\/span>a bit<\/span> sketchy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Vigo County, Indiana<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Terre Haute<\/span><\/a> is the county seat <\/span>and is<\/span> fueled economically by its proximity to Indiana State University. A competent rehab crew should make easy work of many <\/span>of these<\/span> homes priced at<\/span> under $100,000<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Adams County, Mississippi<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Head to Natchez, nestled on the Mississippi River, and you\u2019ll find dozens of Victorian-style<\/span> cottages and Craftsman bungalows for under $100,000<\/span><\/a>, many in pristine, move-in condition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in the historical South, should<\/span> you plan to visit or move here, you can <\/span>visit<\/span> the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, the Natchez National Historical Park, Historic<\/span> Natchez, and Emerald Mound<\/span><\/a>, amongst other plantation tours.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Investing and living in smaller homes is the way forward amid the current housing crisis. <\/span>If<\/span> you\u2019re open to downsizing to bungalows and cottages or fixing up something <\/span>larger<\/span>, investing in these towns and cities could provide a realistic road map<\/span>.<\/span> They offer a decent standard of living and investment opportunities\u2014without the expenses that will keep you up at night.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It doesn\u2019t matter how many doors you have or how much cash flow you generate; if your expenses outweigh your income, you will never be a successful investor. The key […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613725,"featured_media":180346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7364],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-180349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-housing-markets"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613725"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/180346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}