# What could the price of Bernie's house get in your neighborhood? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2016, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771 "2016-08-14T09:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/61 "2016-08-15T01:03:15Z")
Of course, we’re all socialists hereabouts, so no-one would bat an eye at that price tag for a politician’s house. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/62 "2016-08-15T01:25:45Z")
The closest around me is a listing for $629k, which is a 7BR/5BA with 6400 sq. ft. sitting on 10 acres. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/63 "2016-08-15T01:28:53Z")
In my area (expensive part of Montgomery County, MD) that would get you a pretty nice condo, a decent townhouse, or a small older split-level SFH. With some variation by neighborhood depending on which high school cluster it’s in. The nice houses around here are over $1 million. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/64 "2016-08-15T01:39:12Z")
In my particular suburb of St. Louis, $600,000 will buy approximately two houses built in the mid-1950s with three bedrooms, 1.5 baths and a one car garage. However, looking over the local sales records for the last several years, it’s far more likely that a developer will buy one of those houses, tear it down, build a new house that’s way too big for the lot and sell it for $900,000+. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/65 "2016-08-15T01:54:59Z")
> **[1935 Crescent Hills Dr, La Crescent, MN 55947 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1935-Crescent-Hills-Dr-La-Crescent-MN-55947/113925615_zpid/)** > > 1935 Crescent Hills Dr, La Crescent MN, is a Single Family home that contains 3613 sq ft and was built in 2010.It contains 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.This home last sold for $3,000 in December 2022. > > The Zestimate for this Single Family is $590,700,... > **[1935 Crescent Hills Dr, La Crescent, MN 55947 | Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1935-Crescent-Hills-Dr-La-Crescent-MN-55947/113925615_zpid/)** > > 1935 Crescent Hills Dr, La Crescent MN, is a Single Family home that contains 3613 sq ft and was built in 2010.It contains 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.This home last sold for $3,000 in December 2022. > > The Zestimate for this Single Family is $590,700,... Brian ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/66 "2016-08-15T02:42:43Z")
I live on the NW side of Chicago. There are tons of single-family homes in my neighborhood that cost significantly less than that. For $600k you could get something large, nice, and renovated, with yard, garage, etc. But if you go just a mile or two closer to the lake and/or downtown, and the pickings in that price range become much slimmer. It takes me about an hour to get to work in the Loop on the El. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/67 "2016-08-15T03:18:59Z")
Surprisingly, [there’s this](http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Citrus-Heights-CA/pmf,pf_pt/26046523_zpid/51414_rid/500000-600000_price/1736-2084_mp/38.731455,-121.204176,38.655488,-121.371718_rect/12_zm/?3col=true), much bigger than I thought. 4 bedrooms, 2700 s ft. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/68 "2016-08-15T09:18:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Surprisingly, [there’s this](http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Citrus-Heights-CA/pmf,pf_pt/26046523_zpid/51414_rid/500000-600000_price/1736-2084_mp/38.731455,-121.204176,38.655488,-121.371718_rect/12_zm/?3col=true), much bigger than I thought. 4 bedrooms, 2700 s ft. Must be haunted. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/69 "2016-08-15T13:39:31Z")
I live in Bergen County NJ and worked in real estate. $600K will buy 4BRS, 2Baths on about 50 x 100 lot, tops. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/70 "2016-08-15T14:02:13Z")
In my neighborhood, $600,000 USD gets you a lot. Not “A lot” as in a lot of stuff; a lot as in a plot of land. A SMALL lot. There will be a house on it, but it would probably be one you’d tear down and spend half a million dollars building a nicer house on. I’m totally serious. a 50’ by 120’ **lot** is a $600K asset. So, to a close approximation, $600,000 buys you no house at all. You can find some condos for $600,000 and some OK townhouses. A 4000 square foot house will cost you two million dollars and not a penny less. If you want a family home for $600,000 you have to be a hell of a lot further outside Toronto than we are. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/71 "2016-08-15T15:13:52Z")
I’m about 12 hours outside of Toronto, so that’s nice. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/72 "2016-08-15T15:27:14Z")
That will get you a two bedroom condo in Santa Barbara. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/73 "2016-08-15T15:29:17Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > [There seems to be a minor poutage over Bernie buying a $600,000 summer home.](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/290887-sanders-buys-nearly-600k-summer-home) Me, why should I even care how Bernie spends his money? He seems to spend a fair amount of time caring about how I spend mine. So there’s that. Median price for houses in my area is $297K, so he could buy a couple. The nearest house to mine that goes for more than $500K is 4 bedrooms, five bathrooms, and is on a golf course. That one goes for $569K. So he could buy that, and spend the rest on [deodorant](https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/05/30/bernie-sanders-deodorant-comment-ignores-realities-economic-growth/2OfPVj77EsJlZiPSeH1kQN/story.html). Hey, he can afford more house than me! No fair! Let’s protest! Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/74 "2016-08-15T16:01:48Z")
A few years ago, $600k might buy you four houses in my neighborhood. Not tiny ones - 1600 to 2100 sq. ft. with 3 bed/2 bath and a two-car garage. Today, you could still probably get two houses in my neighborhood for that price. But the trick is, houses around here don’t stay listed very long. If you see one on sale you’d better jump on it the same day and offer $10k+ over asking if you want any chance to participate in the bidding war. Welcome to Nashville! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/75 "2016-08-15T17:08:29Z")
I did a Zillow for my zip code. The only places in that price range are condos of about 1200 sq ft. Houses start at $800K and anything over 2,000 sq ft is a million or more. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/76 "2016-08-15T17:27:49Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I did a Zillow for my zip code. The only places in that price range are condos of about 1200 sq ft. Houses start at $800K and anything over 2,000 sq ft is a million or more. I imagine the price of construction would be astronomical in deep space. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/77 "2016-08-15T17:52:19Z")
Some of the above posts simply boggle my mind (which I admit is not hard to boggle these days). I paid $107,900 for a 3-BR, 2 Bath 1600 sq.ft. house with yard and attached 2-car garage in 1997. It’s appreciated since then, of course, but nothing like what I am seeing above. Guess there are some good things about living in the South… Oh, did find a $600,000 listing…no lake view, however…[7773 Wildcreek Trl SE, Huntsville, AL 35802 | Zillow](http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/Madison-County-AL/pmf,pf_pt/92135277_zpid/1894_rid/400000-600000_price/1393-2090_mp/34.998503,-86.022263,34.469202,-87.024766_rect/9_zm/) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/78 "2016-08-15T18:02:52Z")
In my neighborhood, a 2 bedroom condo in an older building. A one bedroom (or more likely an “open 1 bedroom” which is really a studio with ambitions) condo in a newer one. However, for just a teeny bit more, and a bit outside of the city, [you could buy a castle](http://seattle.curbed.com/2016/8/12/12457938/denning-castle-graham-for-sale-washington). (I used to have a co-worker who used to commute from Graham; it’s not _that_ far away. Plus castle) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/79 "2016-08-15T18:04:50Z")
I see three properties for sale at $600,000 or lower in my town: two condos and a mobile home. We’re a bedroom community within commuting distance of Silicon Valley. I’m hoping for a still-high sales price for our home when we retire, and that the prices stay proportionately lower in our chosen region for retirement. That’ll be in about five years or so from now. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771/80 "2016-08-15T18:13:49Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’m wondering who can buy in popular urban centers? As I said in the OP, in Brooklyn you cannot buy a house for less than $500,000. And those houses are in neighborhoods nobody wants to live in, in houses that are falling apart. How can the market bear these prices? This thread is like catnip to me because one thing I never get tired of is marveling at real estate listings. In the Bronx, or at least in my neighborhood, one model for homeownership is multiple families (usually one extended family) in what is clearly a single family home. I know someone who recently moved into a single family, freestanding 3 bedroom home that sold for about $650,000 – mom and dad + two kids, a cousin and her husband, and the mother-in-law. I don’t know if they (the adults) shared the cost of the purchase, or if one family purchased and the others pay some form of rent, but it’s not too uncommon around here. To compare my summer home to Bernie’s, mine did not cost $600,000. Most of the summer cottages where I am (Lake Erie) were actually built as worker’s cottages – my dad once mentioned that his parents’ mortgage was financed through the steelworkers union. A typical house would be between 800 and 1100 sq ft, and the ones I see listed right now range from about 85K (for houses that are essentially the original house sitting there on a half acre lot) up to about 175K (for houses that people have put some money into updating). There are two listings just shy of $600,000 – one is a ridiculous McMansion that someone built on one of these tiny lots, and the other is a more spacious, more historic home on a large lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-the-price-of-bernies-house-get-in-your-neighborhood/762771.md?page=5)