But you can still find a good deal if you know what to look for, like an area with a good cost of living.
Our friends at real estate listing site Point2Homes wanted to find the biggest bargains in the U.S., and came up with 14 listings in its extensive database that were $21 per square foot or less. Some were as low as $3 per square foot. (By comparison the average per-square-foot cost of new, single family homes in the U.S. in 2010 was $84.41).
Most of the properties are fixer-uppers, but some are move-in ready.