Finding affordable houses in a sought-after area can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Similar to all worthwhile investments, real estate has never exactly come cheap, but it typically provides a strong return on investment that makes it worthwhile nonetheless. It would still be nice to look into a crystal ball and find out what the cheapest states to buy a house are.As interest rates and home values have progressively skyrocketed in recent years, the American dream of purchasing a place to call your own has become a lot more out of reach for many aspiring homeowners. Interest rates are slowly but surely dipping, meaning many buyers are seeing some relief in sight, but many markets are still more expensive than ever in certain areas of the country. Many homebuyers who don’t have the luxury of waiting out the market would prefer to relocate to a more affordable state rather than be saddled with a crippling mortgage in their current location. If you’re one of the many Americans who are hoping to avoid sticker shock, there are still multiple markets that offer budget-friendly real estate.Not sure where to start? Parade asked several real estate agents to share details on the 17 states where homes are the most affordable in 2025. We also reference plenty of data from Redfin to determine the median home cost in each of the states below. With these insights, you'll get a general sense of the areas of the country that are luring in homebuyers seeking reasonable home prices.Related: The Surprising U.S. City Where Renters Stick Around the Longest
What's the Average Price of a House in 2025?
Before taking a look at our list of expert-backed states that are the cheapest to buy in the United States, what is the cheapest state to buy a house, overall?A recent report from Rocket Mortgage lists West Virginia as the cheapest state to buy a house in the U.S. Per Redfin, the median sale price is $240,000.Related: This South Carolina Gem Is Becoming the South’s Next Big Food City—And It’s Not Charleston
17 States With the Most Affordable Homes Right Now, According to Realtors
2. Iowa
Median Home Cost: $247,100An Agent’s Perspective: Home prices may be relatively low in Iowa, but Halverson—who works at Plaster and Pine Homes—says household incomes are “solid,” meaning you get “Midwestern prices without sacrificing steady paychecks.”“Lower property tax burdens and smaller metro price pressure than coastal markets keep affordability intact,” she shares.Selling Points: Looking for more reasons to call Iowa home? Consider the growing tech and insurance sectors in Des Moines, family-friendly suburbs and college towns with “stable rental demand,” she points out.
4. Louisiana
Median Home Cost: $253,000An Agent’s Perspective: Halverson says homes in Louisiana are "significantly below national average prices.""This makes homeownership more within reach for solo buyers or first-timers," she shares.Selling Points: She notes that Louisiana has "lots of lifestyle appeal" due to its rich culture, food, music and festivals. The real estate agent says it's a great state for families and investors alike.
6. Mississippi
Median Home Cost: $263,400An Agent’s Perspective: “Statewide median prices are low, and many towns/counties have very low cost of living,” Halverson says while calling out the benefits of living in Mississippi. The agent does caution that “income levels and economic indicators vary,” meaning buyers should pay attention to areas with higher insurance costs or natural disaster risk, since this “can raise ownership costs.” Selling Points: She says Mississippi has a slew of selling points, including Gulf Coast communities, historic towns and low entry prices for investors or owner-occupants.
8. Kentucky
Median Home Cost: $270,500An Agent’s Perspective:Jeff Jarboe, the principal broker and owner of RE/MAX Empire in Mount Washington, KY, says the state has "quietly emerged as a hidden gem in terms of affordability and overall quality of life nationwide."As real estate costs have risen nationwide, prices in Kentucky have remained stable "due to reasonable land expenses, a well-managed development pace and a strong community spirit that fosters a sense of belonging."Selling Points: "Kentucky presents a unique combination of exceptional value, hospitality and diverse lifestyle choices for all types of homebuyers." Jarboe shares. "Whether you are a first-time buyer or relocating from another state, the Bluegrass State offers a level of affordability that is increasingly rare in today's real estate market."The real estate agent also cites the "dynamic metropolitan areas" of Louisville and Lexington."Louisville boasts a rich blend of history, top-notch dining options, the famous bourbon trail and a robust health care industry," he explains. "On the other hand, Lexington (a much smaller city than Louisville) offers a picturesque mix of horse culture, technology, education and access to some of the state's most stunning landscapes."
10. Missouri
Median Home Cost: $280,000An Agent’s Perspective:Annamarie Hopkins, managing broker and co-owner of Smarter Move Real Estate Group, says reasonable property taxes are a major factor for many Missouri homebuyers."There is no legal liability to disclose what you bought your home for and what it appraised for because we are one of the few non-disclosure states in the U.S.," she shares.Charlie Gerken, a broker in Branson, MO, says the state's real estate market is unique since it doesn't have the "highs and lows" that the East and West Coast markets experience."Our prices generally tend to staircase up much slower and not as aggressively, and we also don't have those aggressive falls," he states. "Our employment stays steady throughout the year, which obviously helps that. Our climates are pretty mild, so you don't have the strong summers, you don't have the harsh winters. So it doesn't really get in the way of the construction industry or people moving around."Selling Points: Hopkins cites Missouri as a "great place to raise a family" and says many homebuyers are attracted to the "small town vibes." "We say hi to everybody. You need help, someone will stop and help you," she shares.Also, since Missouri touches eight other states, Gerken says many homebuyers enjoy the ability to travel to other areas with ease.Audrey Boyle, a realtor at Keller Williams, says many people are attracted to Missouri for its "rich history." "We have a lot of old mills around, lots of historic main streets throughout, lots of historic squares," she says.She describes the state as a "best kept beauty secret" since it has "lots of natural beauty" ranging from mountains to flatlands and everything in between.
12. North Dakota
Median Home Cost: $288,950An Agent’s Perspective:Erik Peterson, a broker at Proven Realty in North Dakota, says the state's legacy fund helps make real estate more affordable."We're one of the few states that have our own bank," he explains. "We were smart way back when, and a certain percentage of all oil money goes into a rainy day account, so the state government is not reliant on taxing its residents."Low tax rates and high income also contribute to affordability."We're a small geographic state, so we don't have to pay for all the roads and bridges and all of these other things that a large state has to," he shares.Selling Points: When it comes to North Dakota real estate, Peterson says a lot of people "come for the short term and then never leave." The realtor shares that many people fall for the Midwest charm and the state's "natural beauty."
14. Alabama
Median Home Cost: $293,000 An Agent’s Perspective:John Wesley Brooks, a realtor in Huntsville, AL, says low gas prices, cheaper property taxes and a booming job market all contribute to lower home costs in the state.Alabama Association of Realtors spokesperson Jeremy Walker also notes that the state has “benefited from a steady increase in net migration, economic growth and a higher quality of life." Since the median home price is "well below the national average," many people are attracted to the low overall cost of living."Alabama continues to attract families, professionals and retirees seeking affordability without sacrificing comfort or community," he shares.Selling Points: When deciding to move to Alabama, Wesley Brooks says people consider a number of factors."People move here for many reasons. They move here for political reasons. They move here for religious reasons," he says, adding that "southern hospitality" is also a major selling point.Jonathan Fuller, a realtor at The Gray Group, also notes that many people are attracted to the hospitality of Alabama's residents."If somebody wants to spread themselves out a little bit, you can buy a house with some land," he shares. "You don't have to be side-by-side with your neighbor. But if you are side-by-side with your neighbor, your neighbor [is] usually pretty welcoming. It's more of a sense of community."
16. Nebraska
Median Home Cost: $304,800An Agent’s Perspective:Jennifer Gatzemeyer of Nebraska Realty attributes Nebraska's affordability to a number of factors."People who live here really want to live here. It's affordable because it's not the biggest state for entertainment or bringing in big crowds for anything. We're just kind of born here, raised here, stay here," she shares. "And I think that keeps the cost of living down here a little bit."With a low unemployment rate and lots of industries, job opportunities are also abundant.Selling Points: She says potential homebuyers are drawn in by Nebraska's "down-to-earth" vibe. Many of them also have deep roots in the area."It's one of those places where you've just got to see it to appreciate it," she explains.One thing to consider before moving to Nebraska? There are high property taxes. Though Gatzemeyer says she hasn't seen that deter many folks from putting down roots in the state.
17. Wisconsin
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Sources:
Kendra Halverson is a Washington-based realtor who works at Plaster and Pine Homes.Travis Broadwater is an agent at RE/MAX Broadwater in Wheeling, WV.Jeff Jarboe is the principal broker and owner of RE/MAX Empire in Mount Washington, KY.Mike Jones is the managing broker and owner of RE/MAX At The Crossing in Indianapolis, IN.Annamarie Hopkins is a managing broker and co-owner of Smarter Move Real Estate Group.Charlie Gerken is a broker in Branson, MO.Audrey Boyle is a realtor at Keller Williams.Erik Peterson is a broker at Proven Realty in North Dakota.John Wesley Brooks is a realtor in Huntsville, AL.Jeremy Walker is a spokesperson for the Alabama Association of Realtors.Jonathan Fuller is a realtor at The Gray Group.Mike Opyd is a broker at RE/MAX Premier in Chicago, IL.Jennifer Gatzemeyer is a real estate agent at Nebraska Realty.Scott Wessel is a real estate broker and owner of Wisconsin Real Estate Co., LLC.Hence then, the article about the most affordable homes are in these 17 states realtors reveal was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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