Three cities, three homes, one price: What $250,000 buys in Kansas City, Des Moines and Atlanta

As home prices tick up and up each month nationally, the chance of finding an affordably priced home under $300,000 (or even $400,000) becomes seemingly slimmer.

The median home price, according to Homes.com data, is $395,000. That means half of the listings are sold below that price, while the other half sell for above. A 2025 survey by Bankrate found 83% of American adults don’t own a home because of affordability concerns, with 55% noting high home prices.

According to Homes.com, a home priced at $250,000 with a 20% down payment at the 6.63% rate for a 30-year mortgage would be a monthly payment of $1,542.

A home priced at $250,000 is a far shot from the median home price, but there are several on the market requiring little repair work and in the right markets.

Owned by an artistic architect, this Des Moines home has a “modern flair to it,” said listing agent Brett Fine with ReMax Concepts, with a gallery wall, exposed wood and loft. It’s the first time the home has been listed since 1969.

The entryway is surrounded by windows and moves into a double-height living room with a fireplace and an adjoining formal dining area. Original hardwood floors are throughout, and the owner installed several custom built-in cabinets and bookshelves.

Track lighting across from the stairwell turns a wide open wall on the main level into an area for displaying art.

The owner built a pergola in the backyard, which has flower beds and sculptures. The home is located less than a mile from the Waveland Golf Course and four miles outside of downtown Des Moines.

“It’s a quiet, quaint little neighborhood, and you’re in walking distance of some neighborhood shops as well,” said Fine. “[The owner] lived and loved this home.”

This flipped home underwent a recent remodel that added several features to maximize light, such as a custom front window, added recessed lighting and a bright, airy color palette. The makeover included all new windows, siding, gutters, electrical, plumbing, doors, floors and HVAC.

The kitchen includes quartz countertops, a mosaic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances with gold plumbing fixtures and matching hardware.

“Everyone says real estate is all about location, and that’s why I bought this property,” said listing agent and owner Harrison Turner of Hayden Outdoors Real Estate.

The home is located five miles away from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, three miles from the Delta headquarters and just over six miles from downtown Atlanta.

Original millwork and pocket doors from the 1920s are found throughout this Kansas City home, plus an original fireplace and hardwood floors.

A new roof was installed in June, and the kitchen features updated details such as quartz countertops, gray cabinetry and stainless steel details.

It’s five miles from Kansas City, Missouri.

Listing agent Erick Almaraz describes it as a “fine example of Kansas City, Kansas’ early suburban growth.”

The home has three floors, an enclosed front porch and a back porch.