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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Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First.

By Dusty Rhodes • January 19, 2026
If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options: Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort. Or do you fix it up a bit first – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible? In 2026, that decision matters more than it used to. Here’s what you need to know. More Competition Means Your Home’s Condition Is More Important Again Over the past year, the number of homes for sale has been climbing. And this year, a Realtor.com forecast says it could go up another 8.9% . That matters. As buyers gain more options, they also re-gain the ability to be selective. So, the details are starting to count again. That’s one reason most sellers choose to make some updates before listing. According to a recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), two-thirds of sellers (65%) completed minor repairs or improvements before selling ( the blue and the green in the chart below ). And only one-third (35%) sold as-is : 

Smart Home, Big Risks: Top Cybersecurity Threats Homeowners Need To Know

By Dusty Rhodes • January 12, 2026
Smart home devices are becoming increasingly common. From webcams to thermostats, to TVs and even AI-improved refrigerators, homeowners have an array of choices to make their lives easier. These devices can also boost home prices, making them a worthwhile investment. Yet, these smart home gadgets can also be compromised and are subject to a slew of cybersecurity threats. In fact, Rambus , a chip and silicon IP provider, found that an eye-popping 80% of Internet of Things (IoT) devices “are vulnerable to a wide range of attacks.” Mike Halbouni , founder of PoyntGuard , a security camera and surveillance installation company, said that as homes become more connected, cybersecurity is just as critical as physical security. “Every smart device that connects to your network, including cameras, doorbells, thermostats, smart locks, and voice assistants, can become a potential entry point for hackers if not properly secured,” he said. Common cybersecurity threats, from weak passwords and credentials Jason Chen , technical director and tech expert at JarnisTech , a professional electronics manufacturer, said that the more “smart” your home gets, the more exposed you become. “Convenience has a cost, and that cost is usually hidden in the fine print of your device’s security settings,” he said. The most threat to your smart home security comes from weak default credentials and passwords, according to Thomas S. Hyslip , assistant professor of instruction for the M.S. in cybercrime program in the criminology department at the University of South Florida . As Hyslip explained, many smart devices, including smart cameras, baby monitors, smart doorbells, network routers, and smart hubs, are shipped with publicly known or easily guessable factory passwords and settings, such as "admin" or "123456.” “Cybercriminals use automated tools to scan the internet, searching for devices with these default settings to gain immediate and full control, potentially compromising your entire home network,” he said. To mitigate this threat, homeowners must change passwords immediately and often. Another tip: Avoid inexpensive IoT devices with hard-coded, unchangeable passwords, as these products are permanently vulnerable to takeover and pose an unacceptable risk to your network security, he added. Lack of knowledge Tony Anscombe , chief security evangelist at ESET, a cybersecurity vendor, echoed the sentiment, saying that smart devices introduce several potential risks, the primary ones being privacy and security. Anscombe added that consumers need to ensure they understand exactly what data is being collected by smart devices, how it’s being secured, where it’s being stored, and whether it will be used for any other purposes or shared with a third party. Tim Kravchunovsky , CEO of Chirp , an IoT solutions provider for short-term rentals, also said that the biggest cybersecurity threat most homeowners face isn’t a single device, it's their own home network and IT knowledge. “Depending on how much home automation someone has, their devices may hold extremely sensitive information. Yet most people who automate their homes aren’t very technical, and that lack of expertise creates wide security gaps,” he said. He added that nearly all consumer IoT devices operate over Wi-Fi. Once an attacker gains access to a home’s Wi-Fi network, which is often far easier than people think, they can pivot to the devices themselves and access the data flowing through them. “Businesses recognized this risk years ago, which is why many now isolate IoT devices in a completely separate environment rather than letting them live on the main network,” he said. Smart cameras and doorbells According to Chen, these devices, which are designed to keep you safe, are actually easy prey for hackers themselves. “I know individuals who have used hacked cameras to spy on families, to record them inappropriately, to even broadcast those feeds for everyone to see without their consent,” he said, adding that this happens because many people never update default passwords, update firmware, or connect cameras to their main Wi-Fi networks. “A hacker, after penetrating, can monitor all of your movements—literally,” he said. Chen added that to fix this, there are several steps you can take: turn on two-factor authentication (2FA); change all default login credentials; and set up a separate Wi-Fi network just for smart devices. Smart speakers and voice assistants Dave Meister , cybersecurity evangelist of Check Point Software Technologies , said there have been instances in which attackers have tricked these devices into making purchases or controlling other smart-home features. They’re also constantly listening, which makes them a privacy risk if not configured well, he said. What to do: According to Meister, turn off voice-purchasing, use strong and unique passwords, and use the physical mute button when you’re not using it. And as Chen said: “The golden rule here is if a device is always listening, assume it is always collecting and act accordingly.” Smart locks and garage systems Smart locks make life easier, especially for those among us who constantly forget where they put their keys. However, as Chen put it, these introduce a terrifying vulnerability: If someone compromises your smartphone or your Wi-Fi, your front door could literally unlock for them. “The same goes for connected garage systems. Many rely on cloud-based apps that, if breached, could grant access to your home in seconds,” he said. Instead, Chen urges homeowners to use locks with end-to-end encryption; lock down your smartphone with biometrics and remote wipe options; and audit who has access—remove old guest codes or app permissions you’ve forgotten about. Smart TVs and streaming devices Gene Petrino , lead adviser for Security.org , a company specializing in personal and home security, and a retired SWAT commander, said that many devices include microphones and cameras that can be exploited if security is weak. Petrino recommends turning off unused connectivity features, such as voice control and camera, and only installing apps from trusted sources. In addition, he urges homeowners to enable firmware updates regularly. “Think of your smart home like a digital ecosystem; each device is a door. The more devices you connect, the more doors you create. Secure each one with strong passwords, regular updates, and separate networks for critical systems,” he said. Check Point Software Technologies’ Meister added that, surprisingly, these are among the most vulnerable devices in the home. “A lot of the cheaper streaming boxes run old software, and we’ve seen cases this year where malware actually came pre-installed on knockoff devices people bought online. Once they’re plugged in, they can be used for things like click-fraud or even large-scale attacks,” he said. Meister offered another tip: Stick to reputable brands and keep up to date. Home Wi-Fi router “The router is basically the front door to your digital house,” said Meister. As he noted, the average home sees dozens of attack attempts a day, and a lot of IoT traffic isn’t encrypted at all. If your router is old or still using the default login, it’s an easy target. What you can do is use a strong Wi-Fi password and turn on automatic updates, he said. Smart thermostats Security.org’s Petrino said attackers can gather data on your daily routines—like when you’re home or away—or use unsecured devices to access your entire Wi-Fi network. He said that homeowners should create a separate network for smart devices, use strong router passwords and WPA3 encryption, and avoid connecting unnecessary appliances to the internet. Meister also cautions that many owners don’t realize appliances can be hacked, too, and that older or cheap models often never get software updates, which means any vulnerability lives forever. His advice? Before buying, check whether the brand actually updates its products. And if a device stops getting updates, it’s time to replace it. “If I had to give homeowners one simple rule, it’d be this: Treat every smart device like a tiny computer. Update it, use a strong password, and don’t put it on the same network as the devices that actually matter, like your laptop or phone,” he added. 

When Is the Right Time to Downsize Your Home?

By Dusty Rhodes • January 5, 2026
Downsizing your home is a major decision, and the right moment to act is not always obvious. The best time to downsize is whenever your current home no longer aligns with your financial, lifestyle, or personal needs. It’s less about the market and more about your life stage. But deciding to downsize can be hard, and leaving a home filled with cherished memories can bring heartache. So, when is the right time to downsize? If owning your home in Seattle, WA , or renting a house in Portland, OR , has brought more stress and worry than joy in recent years, the time may be right to downsize into something smaller. In this Redfin real estate article, we’ll explore how, by considering financial, emotional, and maintenance factors, you can determine if now is the perfect time to trade your large property for a smaller, more manageable space. Financial signs you should consider downsizing Your finances often provide the clearest signal that it is time to downsize. Carrying a large mortgage or facing ever-increasing utility and maintenance bills can put unnecessary strain on your budget. High maintenance costs : Is your maintenance budget constantly being stretched by repairs on a large or older home? The costs of running and maintaining unused square footage add up significantly over time. Downsizing can drastically reduce these expenses, freeing up money for other goals. Nearing or entering retirement : Many people choose to downsize right before or as they enter retirement. This is an excellent opportunity to reduce housing payments, eliminate your mortgage, and unlock home equity. As Patricia Cavanaugh of The 3rd Act , a retirement planning service for seniors, says, “It’s time to downsize when your personal possessions and material goods are weighing you down and preventing you from making room for your new retirement lifestyle.” Desire to free up equity : Selling a larger, more expensive home and buying a smaller one means you will have a substantial amount of equity released. This money can be used to travel, invest, or simply create a more secure financial cushion for the future. Lifestyle and emotional indicators Beyond money, your day-to-day life is a powerful indicator of whether a smaller home makes sense. The way you use your space can reveal if your home is now too big for your needs. Living a simpler life may offer helpful benefits to your emotional and mental health. Becoming an empty nester : When your children move out, you might find yourself with multiple unused bedrooms and living areas. This space not only costs money to maintain and heat, but it can also feel unnecessary. Downsizing to a cozier home allows you to repurpose that space and focus on a new, simpler chapter. Too much unused space: Walk through your home and identify rooms you rarely or never use. If you have rooms that feel like storage areas rather than functional living spaces, it is a sign that your home is simply too large for your current lifestyle. Downsizing allows you to live more efficiently. A simpler, less demanding life : Large properties require a lot of effort to clean, maintain, and landscape. If you are starting to feel burdened by the chores associated with your home, downsizing to a smaller house or a low-maintenance condo can dramatically improve your quality of life. This trade-off gives you more time for hobbies or relaxation. What about the housing market? While your personal situation is the most important factor, the market can influence your timing. The best financial time to downsize is generally when your current home’s value is high. This allows you to maximize the profit from the sale, which directly translates to more funds for your smaller purchase. However, remember that when sale prices are high, so are purchase prices. A good real estate agent can help you analyze the market to find a sweet spot where you achieve the best outcome on both transactions. Making the move Once you decide it is the right time to downsize , the next big step is to declutter. This process can be the most time-consuming part of the move. Leaving an old home can be an emotional process, so the best approach is to start early and be ruthless about what you truly need. Focus on organizing, donating, and selling items well before you list your property . Frequently asked questions: What is the main benefit of downsizing? The main benefit is financial: Reducing your monthly expenses, cutting utility and maintenance bills, and freeing up a significant amount of home equity. Will downsizing definitely save me money? In most cases, yes. While the cost of moving and closing on a new, smaller home is a factor, the long-term savings from lower property taxes , lower utility costs, and reduced or eliminated mortgage payments almost always result in substantial savings. What should I do before I list my current home? The most important step is decluttering and organizing every space. A home that is neat and free of excess belongings shows much better to potential buyers and makes your eventual move much easier.