See how much you can get for your money with a look at $500,000 homes in four different cities. The asking price is around a half-million dollars for each of these properties in Salt Lake City, Bend, Detroit and Long Beach. All were located via Cyberhomes’ searchable listings.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Photo: Summit Sotheby’s Realty
Price: $499,900
Per square foot: $156
Square footage: 3,200
The home: A four-bedroom, two-bathroom home built in the 1950s.
Photo: Summit Sotheby’s Realty
Indoor space: Floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings make for a bright, open floor plan in this ranch-style home. A large living room with a wood-mantel fireplace and crown molding provides a cozy place to relax. The master bedroom and bath includes a large closet spanning an entire wall. A colorful kitchen, dining room, and family room with second fireplace round out the rest of the 3,200 square feet.
Outdoor space: A large, semi-covered back deck boasts views of Salt Lake Valley, while a smaller kitchen side deck has room for a grill. A two-car attached garage and driveway allow space for four cars.
Neighborhood: The home is located 30 minutes from Park City and 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. Just two blocks from the Hogle Zoo, the Sunnyside East neighborhood is home to many younger families. The Wasatch Mountains extend both north and south of the valley.
Contact: Susan Poulin, Summit Sotheby’s Realty, 801-244-5766
Bend, Oregon
Photo: Bend Property Sales
Price: $550,000
Per square foot: $190
Square footage: 2,899
The home: A lodge-style home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms built in 2005.
Photo: Bend Property Sales
Indoor space: The home features a formal dining room and kitchen with breakfast nook, large living room with gas river-rock fireplace and a game/bonus room including a custom wet bar for entertaining. Black walnut floors, granite countertops, and built-in bookshelves add detail.
Outdoor space: The lot includes a large fenced-in backyard and semi-covered patio. Parking is available in the three-car garage and additional space for an RV is provided on the lot.
Neighborhood: The home is located on a family-friendly cal-de-sac minutes from the Old Mill District, full of shops and restaurants, and a short drive from downtown Bend. Home to Central Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Bend boasts outdoor activities from skiing to hiking year round. The Southern Crossing neighborhood is also a short walk from the Deschutes River.
Contact: Cathy Del Nero, Bend Property Sales, 541-410-5280
Detroit, Michigan
Photo: Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate
Price: $500,000
Per square foot: $98
Square footage: 5,095
The home: A three-story French Country Manor-style home built in 1925 with six bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Photo: Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate
Indoor space: This expansive home was built by Albert Kahn, the American industrial architect known as the “architect of Detroit.” The house includes a formal dining room, living room, finished basement and a paneled library with a concealed Prohibition-era wet bar. A master bedroom and bath includes double vanity, marble flooring and large tub as well as a full wall of closets including a walk-in. The updated kitchen includes a butler's pantry.
Outdoor space: The roughly half-acre private backyard includes a custom kidney-shaped pool equipped with lead fish fountains. An attached, heated garage and an additional unattached garage together accommodate three cars.
Neighborhood: Modeled after English countryside style, the Palmer Woods subdivision is home to many doctors, lawyers, and clergy of Detroit. Just 10 minutes from downtown, the home is located in the Central North End of the city.
Contact: Kenan Bakirci, Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate, 248-642-2400
Long Beach, California
Photo: Coldwell Banker Star Realty
Price: $499,000
Per square foot: $553
Square footage: 902
The home: A three-bedroom, one-bathroom Craftsman-style home built in 1923.
Photo: Coldwell Banker Star Realty
Indoor space: Period details such as crown molding, original wood windows and built-ins add charm to this small bungalow. A third, loft-style bedroom with stained-glass picture window was added to the home in 1929 and doubles as a home office. A cozy living room extends from the recently updated kitchen, which includes granite countertops, ceramic tile floor and stainless steel appliances.
Outdoor space: The home has a large service porch, and the 4,000-square-foot yard provides plenty of opportunities for an ambitious gardener. Parking is available in a one-car detached garage and driveway.
Neighborhood: Just outside of the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach, the home is a short walk to Recreation Park Golf Course as well as Marine Stadium, a stretch of water off of Alamitos Bay and premier water skiing and rowing facility. A mix of families and young professionals live in the area, which is about a ten-minute drive from downtown Long Beach.
Contact: Sergio Macias, Coldwell Banker Star Realty, 562-618-4153