8 Tips for Finding a Bargain-Priced Home

Dusty Rhodes • March 3, 2025

No matter what your local housing market is like, there are always strategies for finding cheaper homes. Here are eight of them.


While it may feel like finding a deal when buying a house is far from achievable, there are strategies that tend to help raise your chances of finding an affordable home, even in a challenging market.


We spoke with expert buyer's agents to learn some of the best housing market hacks for finding lower-priced houses. Be sure to talk to your own agent to learn what approaches might work best for your goals and budget.


1. Look for homes that have been on the market for longer than 30 days


There are deals to be had in houses that have been on the market for a few weeks. Hao Dang of the Hao Dang Team in Bellevue, Washington, says he tells buyers looking for a more affordable house to start with properties that have been on the market for as little as 15 days. “For every 15 days, we can usually negotiate 2% to 3% off the purchase price,' he says. “Once it hits the 30-day mark, sometimes we can negotiate 5% to 10% off the price.'

“For every 15 days, we can usually negotiate 2% to 3% off the purchase price. Once it hits the 30-day mark, sometimes we can negotiate 5% to 10% off the price.”

2. Stay away from turnkey homes and extreme fixer-uppers


You can save money by buying a house that's not 100% move-in ready and doing a little work yourself. A bit of sweat equity can increase your buying power. But don't go for a house that needs a gut reno unless you have a separate stash of cash saved for the work.


Home renovations are much more expensive, difficult and time-consuming than they appear on HGTV. With inflation pushing up prices for everything from lumber to labor, you might spend more than you planned to fix up a project house that looked like a bargain.


The sweet spot, budget-wise, is a home that's between those extremes. Look for a middle ground with a home that needs a little TLC, not a total rehab. Keep an eye out for homes with no structural issues that need a little cosmetic work like removing popcorn ceilings, laying new carpet or repainting too-bright interior or exterior colors.


3. Shop lower-priced alternatives to traditional single-family homes


Sure, a single-family home with a yard is the official American Dream for many. But there are alternative ways to buy a home. Consider buying a condo, co-op or townhome where you share a wall with neighbors. Or think about multi-family homes that allow you to split the homeowning costs with others. You could team up with friends to buy a home and pool your money for the mortgage, down payment and cost of upkeep. Or, you could buy a duplex or triplex, live in one unit and use the rent from the others to help pay the mortgage.


Another option is an accessory dwelling unit, also called an ADU or a mother-in-law suite, that shares a yard with a main house. ADUs have become popular in dense cities with no raw land to build more houses. They're a good pick for first-time homeowners who don't need a lot of space or empty nesters. Check out manufactured homes, too, which have come a long way from the days of the ugly doublewide and evolved into affordable homes with design cred.


4. Look for homes with less desirable features


Your dream home may not be a 1960s split-level with a galley kitchen by a cemetery or a 1970s ranch house with a conversation pit near a busy road. But you can get more for your housing dollar if you accept a house that is, well, off-trend and not in the perfect location.


Buying a house that is a bit less desirable can help you get into a neighborhood that might otherwise be out of your price range. Buying the worst house on the best block is a time-tested way to find a place to live without blowing your budget. Be sure you're OK with the location you pick because you cannot change it. The 24-hour convenience store that will be your neighbor and helped push the house price down $20,000 isn't going away once you close.


5. Consider putting an offer on a contingent house


In real estate, contingent homes mean the seller has accepted a buyer's offer, but the sale won't go through until certain criteria are met. Guess what? Contingent home deals can fall through. If financing falls through, the appraisal comes in low or the home inspection turns up a surprise, the house may go back on the open market. If you have a backup offer in place, it may go to you.

 

You'll have to move fast if a contingent deal falls through and the house drops into your lap, but you'll not have as much competition for it. That's because most buyers scroll past a listing marked 'contingent' because they don't know they can make an offer. You might be able to swoop in and get a deal.


6. Look at foreclosure auctions


If a homeowner cannot pay their mortgage and defaults on their home loan, the lender can put it on the market as a foreclosure. These houses are listed publicly by city, county or state agencies, depending on local law, and sold at auction where you can pick up a deal. You should hire an agent specializing in foreclosures who can walk you through the buying process.


7. Understand that the highest offer doesn't always win


Don't walk away from a house with other bidders because you figure there's no way you'll have the cash to make the highest offer. Sometimes the high offer falls through, and sometimes sellers are looking for something other than top dollar — like flexibility on when they move. “I've had sellers work with buyers on the price if the buyer would let them stay in the home while they find another place to live,' says Metalios.


Metalios has done deals where the seller stayed in the house up to 10 months after the deal closed. “A buyer who can be patient with timing is often more desirable to a seller. That gives the seller time to figure out where they will go without pressure. Perhaps they could have gotten more money on the open market but to (the seller), being able to move on their timeline was more important.'


8. Don’t forget to explore government-sponsored loan programs


This tip won't help you find cheap houses per se, but it may help make your mortgage payment for your home more affordable. There are a range of local and federal government programs aimed at helping first-time homebuyers, public service workers, veterans and low-income earners. The U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) offers a slew of programs to provide affordable housing.


HUD has a list of programs in every state to help homebuyers. Some offer lower interest rates, and others offer financial assistance with down payments or closing costs. For example:



Some cities offer home ownership help ranging from down payment assistance to closing cost assistance. For example, Atlanta offers $10,000 towards the down payment and closing costs for buyers within the city limits who meet income requirements. Seattle offers up to $55,000 in down payment assistance. Visit hud.gov/buying/localbuying for a list of what types of down payment assistance programs and other resources are available at the state level.



Source: Zillow


Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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What Stays With the House When You Move?

By Dusty Rhodes • March 30, 2026
When you’re selling your home , it is natural to assume that anything you can safely remove is yours to keep—like the light fixtures you painstakingly cleaned and repaired, or the appliances you bought last year. But the truth is, the buyer may want some of those items, too, and sometimes it's better to part ways with these items for the sake of the sale. Rather than keep everything, you should decide what you'd like to keep and what you'll leave behind as a way to entice buyers into making an offer, particularly in today's market where buyers are holding more of the cards than ever. What stays with the house? Generally, certain items stay with the house when you sell and move. Some features may seem obvious, but the truth is, you're probably expected to leave more behind than you think. Some of these items can include: Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stay inside the home. Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Wall mounts: If you have TV wall mounts or picture mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains , plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors. Hardware : If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in the bathrooms and kitchen, you should either leave those behind or install replacements before you move. Alarm systems : Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service. Smoke detectors : Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house. What can you take? While you’re expected to leave some items behind, in general your belongings are yours to keep. Here are some examples: Patio furniture, lawn equipment, and play sets : If you have a wooden swing set in the backyard and a bistro table on the front porch, take those items with you. Appliances : Some lenders require that a home have an oven installed before approving a loan, but for all other appliances, it's up to you to decide what you will take and what you will offer as part of the home. Some light fixtures : Generally, homeowners leave light fixtures behind, but if you’re attached to a certain fixture, you can make arrangements with the buyer to take it. Built-in kitchen tools : If you can safely remove a mounted spice rack or the pasta arm, you can take it with you. Rugs, basic curtains, wreaths : Small decor items like rugs or curtain rods that can be safely removed can be taken. What should you consider leaving? Some of your personal items can be used to help sell your house—or increase the asking price. Before you take everything just to take it, consider offering some hot items like the following: Appliances : Homeowners, especially new homeowners, don’t always have their own appliances. Many buyers would be more likely to place an offer on a home if it came fully stocked with appliances. Custom swing and play sets : If you have a swing set or playhouse your children have outgrown and you notice a potential buyer has children, offer to include the item with the deal. Kitchen built-ins : Built-in spice racks, pantry organization, and windowsill shelves can really help sell a kitchen. Consider offering the items to an interested buyer. Light fixtures, curtains, rugs, and other upgrades : If you’ve upgraded the light fixtures or have custom rugs in the entryway, a buyer may be willing to increase his or her offer to keep those items in the home.  If you’re not sure what would entice a buyer, ask your real estate agent to provide suggestions. Don't have an agent yet? Here's how to find a real estate agent in your area.

Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them)

By Dusty Rhodes • March 23, 2026
Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country. And the sellers who are making their moves happen all have one thing in common: they’ve adjusted their strategy to match today’s market. They’re realizing inventory has grown. Homebuyers are more selective. And buyer expectations are higher. The sellers who struggle are usually approaching today’s market with yesterday’s expectations. Here are the three biggest mistakes they’re making – and how to avoid them. 1. Pricing Based on What Their Neighbor Got a Few Years Back Setting your price is the most important decision you make when you sell – and the one that’s most often mishandled. Realtor.com data shows almost 1 out of 5 sellers in 2025 had to drop their price. Here’s what those sellers went wrong. Buyers have more choice and more negotiating power now that inventory has grown. And house hunters will actively avoid your house is if feels like it’s priced too high. That’s why overpricing usually leads to: Fewer showings Less competitive (or lowball) offers Longer time on market And all three of those side effects are things you don’t want to deal with. What To Do Instead: The good news is the cure is simple. Just price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s headlines. Lean on your agent’s knowledge of recent comparable sales, current competition, and local buyer behavior to land in the value “sweet spot” that drives traffic and urgency from day one. 2. Trying To Skip Repairs That Buyers Now Expect A few years ago, you could sell as-is and still get well above asking. Today? Not so much. Right now, NAR says two-thirds of sellers are making at least some repairs. And the reason why is simple. In a market with more inventory, buyers compare homes side by side. Homes that don’t show well (or feel dated) are going to lose attention quickly, even if the issues are minor. What To Do Instead: Ask your agent which high-impact, low-stress updates they’d recommend for your house. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping buyers see themselves moving in without a mental to-do list. Small investments in staging, repairs, and curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly offers come in – and how strong those offers are. 3. Playing Hardball When Buyers Try To Negotiate Today’s buyers have housing affordability at the top of their minds. And since money is already tight, they’ll be pickier and will probably ask for some compromises from you. Whether that’s making repairs, giving them a credit at closing, or taking just a few thousand dollars off your asking price, negotiating is normal again. So, if something pops up in the inspection, you’re going to need to be open to talking about it. If you’re not, you may very well see your buyer walk away. And some sellers are figuring this out the hard way. Redfin data shows one of the big reasons home sales fell thru in 2025 was inspection or repair issues. Odds are those homeowners weren’t willing to flex a bit to get the deal done. What to Do Instead: Meet with your agent to make sure you understand what buyers in your area care the most about. Align your price with value, present the home clearly and confidently, and stay open to reasonable negotiations that keep deals moving forward.

10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By

By Dusty Rhodes • March 16, 2026
They’re often called aging-in-place features, but things like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and wide walkways and doorways can benefit everyone, no matter their age or ability. “Regardless of aging in place, there is a place for these in day-to-day life, whether it be a teenager on crutches, a family member having had surgery, active kids,” designer Dana Bass says. “It’s not just about aging in place. We’ve got to account for unplanned life emergencies.” Designer Tammy Battistessa of Ellaire Kitchen & Bath Design agrees. “Whenever possible, I include aging-in-place and universal design features in every project, as I believe many of these features benefit clients of all ages and abilities, in addition to allowing a client to safely remain in their home for a longer period of time,” she says. Creating a home that can adapt also makes it more sustainable. “Aging in place is a key element to making legacy homes that can evolve over time,” architect Tim Barber says. With all that in mind, we asked more than 50 home design and construction professionals to share the aging-in-place features they always recommend. Here are the 10 that came up again and again. 1. Wide Walkways and Doorways Planning ahead is one of the most important steps when incorporating aging-in-place features. Many of these elements require thoughtful design and construction, so it’s wise to start early — and to consider hiring professionals who understand the nuances. “Thinking through how you will really use the space makes all the difference,” designer Haiku Durden of HDS Design says. “Having a designer involved really makes a difference.” A professional can help you create a plan that works for your current needs and anticipates future ones. “We currently default to aging-in-place features when our clients are near retirement or retirement age,” says designer Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio . “Preplanning by adding blocking behind the wall finish, spacious floor planning to allow for wheelchair or walker use.” In fact, spacious layouts are among the most commonly recommended aging-in-place strategies. Wide walkways and doorways — and generous clearances around furniture and fixtures — make it easier for anyone to move through the home comfortably. Installing a continuous flooring material throughout also reduces tripping hazards caused by changes in height or texture between rooms.