The $1 Home
Imagine a housing market in which homes sell for less than the price of a gallon of gas. Oh, wait. No need to imagine. Right now, that housing market exists. Thanks to Historic Properties, an online venue for buying and selling historic houses, you can find that $1 dream house. The catch? You’ll have to relocate to Lynchburg, Virginia (two houses on the low-ball market), or South Bend, Indiana (seven houses for $1 apiece!). All of these historic homes are being offered through their cities’ respective architectural preservation societies in an effort to maintain pieces of city history.
Of course, Historic Properties doesn’t just offer bargain basement fixer-uppers. You’ll find sprawling mansions, staid saltboxes, even a bungalow or two. And while not all homes tout that $1 asking price, many are offered at what amounts to a down payment here in Seattle (even in today’s slug-slow market). Not bad, right? Here in the Emerald City, I found a handful of homes sold recently for Historic Properties prices; all under $40,000, and all in need of a little restorative love.
174 Florentia St., Apt. 402
Sold: June 17, 2008
Price: $36,371
Specs: 1 bd/1 bath condo; built 1978
505 E. Denny Way, Apt. A303
Sold: July 11, 2008
Price: $24,500
Specs: 1 bd/1 bath condo; built 1923
2411 S. Norman St.
Sold: June 23, 2008
Price: $8,000
Specs: 3 bd/2 bath condo; built 1996
5622 Seaview Ave. NW
Sold: June 17, 2008
Price: $7,000
Specs: 2 bd/1.75 bath home; built 1955
If you’re looking for sweet digs for a sweet deal now, check out this 3-bedroom Madrona rambler for $51,000. Or, if you’re enterprising, this Robinswood quarter-acre, offered at an unknown price. Interested?
