What $300K Buys You Now

Memphis, Tenn.

• Square footage: 3,445
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 3.5
• Acreage: 0.35
• Listed for: $287,000

This two-story home in the fourth-cheapest U.S. city to live in has the second-most square footage of the homes featured in this slide show.

Inside, there’s an eat-in kitchen -- one of the seven home features buyers want most -- with a new double oven, Corian countertops and freshly painted cabinets. The living room has a wet bar. On the second level, the master bedroom includes a large bay window.

Outside, a front porch and circular driveway boost curb appeal, and a two-car garage is attached. Out back, there’s a sunroom, as well as an in-ground pool surrounded by a lounge area with a gazebo.

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New York City

• Square footage: 325
• Bedrooms: Studio
• Bathrooms: 1
• Acreage: N/A
• Listed for: $279,000

New York is at the top of the list of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, so your housing dollar will stretch less there.

This studio apartment is the smallest home featured in this slide show. It’s part of the Broadmoor cooperative, which was built in 1927 and is located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The renovated kitchen includes granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. There are also two large closets and refinished oak hardwood floors. The building has a 24-hour doorman, a live-in superintendent and a roof deck.

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Tucson, Ariz.

• Square footage: 1,998
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2
• Acreage: N/A
• Listed for: $295,900

Built in 1970, this single-story ranch-style home has a remodeled kitchen with granite countertops. There’s also a separate laundry room, one of the seven features home buyers want most. The living room includes a fireplace and an adjacent dining area.

The large backyard features a heated pool, a hot tub, a fire pit and a covered patio that runs the length of the back of the home.

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Charleston, S.C.

• Square footage: 2,100
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Acreage: 0.15
• Listed for: $288,000

One of the 10 most tax-friendly states for retirees, South Carolina’s property taxes are among the lowest in the country for retirees.

This two-story house has plenty of modern upgrades, including a tankless water heater and Wi-Fi thermostat. It’s wired for surround sound and has outdoor speakers. In the kitchen, there’s a breakfast bar, as well as a separate dining space, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and a tile backsplash. Hardwood floors run throughout the first level. There’s also a two-car garage.

It's located in the West Ashley community and is minutes away from downtown Charleston and Interstate 526.

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Seattle

• Square footage: 1,130
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 1
• Acreage: 0.10
• Listed for: $295,950

This compact home, built in 1919, has a fenced-in front and backyard. In the front of the home, there’s a large porch and a gas fire-pit area with ample room for seating. In the back are a new deck and three off-street parking spots.

Inside, you’ll find hardwood floors throughout, except in the eat-in kitchen. The master bedroom has a closet with a built-in organization system, and there’s a separate laundry room, a big selling point. This home also has a basement with a separate entrance.

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Grove City, Ohio

• Square footage: 2,040
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Acreage: 0.49
• Listed for: $243,000

The cheapest home in our roundup, this two-story house was built in 1994 and comes with a partially finished basement for additional living space. It sits on a half-acre and has a large fenced-in backyard with a trellis-covered patio and an in-ground pool. There's also a storage shed to stash lawn care supplies.

Grove City is located in central Ohio and is a suburb of the capital city of Columbus.

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Eagle River, Wisc.

• Square footage: 3,000
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 3
• Acreage: 4.07
• Listed for: $299,000

This split-level home has the largest acreage among the properties featured in this slide show. It's located in Eagle River, which touts itself as the "Snowmobile Capital of the World." The home has hickory flooring, two wood-burning fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and an attached, heated two-car garage. In the back, there’s a large multilevel deck.

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Salt Lake City

• Square footage: 1,340
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2
• Acreage: 0.11
• Listed for: $269,900

Located in the East Central neighborhood of Salt Lake City, one of Kiplinger’s 10 best cities for new graduates, this Victorian-style home is 125 years old and has been given a complete makeover. The newly remodeled kitchen has a double sink, upgraded cabinets and new appliances (but no fridge). Three designated parking spaces come with the property.

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Sacramento, Calif.

• Square footage: 1,593
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 1
• Acreage: 0.19
• Listed for: $295,000

This single-level home has refurbished hardwood floors in the main living areas and bedrooms. One of the bathrooms has been renovated and features a shower stall that doubles as a steam room.

In the backyard, there’s a large deck, partially covered with a trellis. A one-car garage is attached, and there’s a carport large enough to fit two additional vehicles.

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Kihei, HI

• Square footage: 566
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1
• Acreage: N/A
• Listed for: $279,900

You'll pay top dollar for the tropical weather, picturesque views and beachfront living in the Aloha state. This quaint condo costs $10,000 more than the largest single-family home in this slide show.

It’s located in the Maui Gardens condominium community and is within one mile of an aquatic center, park, recreation center, and beach. Amenities include hardwood floors, and the kitchen has updated cabinets and lighting, stainless steel appliances and a mosaic tile backsplash. The bathroom features a granite countertop, a new tub and brushed stainless steel fixtures.

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Springfield, Mass.

• Square footage: 2,440
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Acreage: 0.78
• Listed for: $269,900

This two-story, Colonial-style home, constructed in 1921, is characteristic of older single-family homes in New England. There’s ample storage space in the attic and basement, as well as built-in shelves and storage in the formal dining room and sunroom. Hardwood floors run throughout the house, and all of the bedrooms have ceiling fans. There's a two-car garage, and the backyard includes a small deck.

This home is located in the Liberty Heights community, which includes the Atwater Park, Hungry Hill and Lower Liberty Heights neighborhoods.

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Harlingen, Tex.

• Square footage: 3,888
• Bedrooms: 6
• Bathrooms: 3
• Acreage: 0.38
• Listed for: $269,900

Your home-buying dollar stretches far in Harlingen, number one on our list of the 10 cheapest U.S. cities to live in. This single-family home is the largest of all the houses featured in this slide show -- at the second-cheapest list price.

The eat-in kitchen includes a breakfast bar that’s large enough to seat four. The garage has been converted into the sixth bedroom. The large, fenced-in backyard features a trellis-covered patio and a pool.

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