Three bedroom starter homes for $160,000
http://www.realestatejournal.com/columnists/moneysworth/20050331-moneysworth.html
PLACE/PRICE: Silver City, N.M. / $159,900
PROPERTY TAX: $535 annually
THE PROPERTY: This 1,353-square-foot ranch with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths was built in 1996.
DESCRIPTION: This home has a vaulted ceiling in the living room and provides mountain views. There is a sliding glass door off the combination kitchen-dining room.
NOTABLE: Silver City, situated on the outskirts of the Gila Wilderness, has one of the lowest property-tax rates in the country.
http://www.realtor.com/Default.asp?poe=realtor
This is the website I used to find my home. I didn't even have an agent. I caught the lender in a mistake at settlement and (after he called me a liar I proved him wrong) he had to write me a check for $1500.00 or redo the paper work.
What they picked as "starter homes" in that article aren't even starter homes! New Construction is NOT A STARTER HOME! Starter Homes are the older established homes, not something that's a few years old... If you are buying new or relatively new construction you aren't in the starter home if you are planning long term. Buy the older house now, so you can buy the Mansion later.