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Top Ten Under Twenty: Detroit's Best Buys Under $20K

By Paul Beshouri
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By Paul Beshouri
2 comments / new

Detroit's cheap real estate is known across the world, but what exactly do those famously cheap houses look like? In some cases, pretty nice. For the third and final time this year, we're rolling out another edition of Top Ten Under Twenty—our top ten houses asking only $20K or less. As always, we're not promising these properties don't have hidden issues, unpaid taxes/water bills, or a variety of critters living in the attic. Be sure to do your research. See something interesting? The 'website' link next to each home will take you to the listing. Without further ado, here are ten of the country's cheapest buys.

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$15,500

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Fifteen grand buys this '50s modern ranch in the Aviation Sub, which includes vaulted ceilings wired with AM/FM radio throughout. Fancy!
Beds: 2
Baths: 2
SF: 1,368

8529 Sorrento Street, Detroit, MI 48228

$15,000

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This great little house in Riverdale has a natural fireplace and a cathedral ceiling. Both sound cozy.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: 1,514

16211 Chapel Street, Detroit, MI 48219

$14,900

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Northern Hamtramck has a duplex that's in fantastic shape, though it might be the only house on the block able to say that.
Beds: Unknown
Baths: 2
SF: 1,444

3849 Gaylord Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212

$19,100

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Hardwood floors and a study await the buyer of this 1928 house near Grandmont-Rosedale.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: 1,336

15349 Mansfield Street, Detroit, MI 48227

$12,000

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Another Morningside home likely needs some work, but the historic interior looks pristine.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
SF: 1,396 sqft

4304 Buckingham Avenue, Detroit, MI 48224

$17,000

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This east side duplex has new boilers, a security system, and a lot of original woodwork. Being a duplex, it has two of everything.
Beds: 6 (total)
Baths: 2
SF: 2,420

8357 Wallace Street, Detroit, MI 48213

$11,500

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This ranch in The Eye neighborhood is in great condition. It's not often that this price buys a "Florida" room.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
SF: $11,500

17700 Winston Street, Detroit, MI 48219

$17,000

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This house in the Morningside neighborhood is only partially renovated, hence its sale price. Built in 1926, a giant fieldstone chimney is its most prominent architectural feature.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: Unknown

5300 3 Mile Drive, Detroit, MI 48224

$13,000

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This pointy home might be the best of the bunch. Just south of Marygrove College in the Fitzgerald neighborhood, it comes with newer wood floors and a fireplace.
Beds: 4
Baths: 2
SF: 1,555 sqft

15884 Indiana Street, Detroit, MI 48238

$12,000

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A giant duplex just outside Boston-Edison asks just $12,000. Each unit has three bedrooms, a fireplace, and an enclosed porch. Hardwood floors and new windows are also part of the deal.
Beds: 6
Baths: 2
SF: 3,000

2061 Gladstone Street, Detroit, MI 48206

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$15,500

8529 Sorrento Street, Detroit, MI 48228

Fifteen grand buys this '50s modern ranch in the Aviation Sub, which includes vaulted ceilings wired with AM/FM radio throughout. Fancy!
Beds: 2
Baths: 2
SF: 1,368

8529 Sorrento Street, Detroit, MI 48228

$15,000

16211 Chapel Street, Detroit, MI 48219

This great little house in Riverdale has a natural fireplace and a cathedral ceiling. Both sound cozy.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: 1,514

16211 Chapel Street, Detroit, MI 48219

$14,900

3849 Gaylord Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212

Northern Hamtramck has a duplex that's in fantastic shape, though it might be the only house on the block able to say that.
Beds: Unknown
Baths: 2
SF: 1,444

3849 Gaylord Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212

$19,100

15349 Mansfield Street, Detroit, MI 48227

Hardwood floors and a study await the buyer of this 1928 house near Grandmont-Rosedale.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: 1,336

15349 Mansfield Street, Detroit, MI 48227

$12,000

4304 Buckingham Avenue, Detroit, MI 48224

Another Morningside home likely needs some work, but the historic interior looks pristine.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
SF: 1,396 sqft

4304 Buckingham Avenue, Detroit, MI 48224

$17,000

8357 Wallace Street, Detroit, MI 48213

This east side duplex has new boilers, a security system, and a lot of original woodwork. Being a duplex, it has two of everything.
Beds: 6 (total)
Baths: 2
SF: 2,420

8357 Wallace Street, Detroit, MI 48213

$11,500

17700 Winston Street, Detroit, MI 48219

This ranch in The Eye neighborhood is in great condition. It's not often that this price buys a "Florida" room.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
SF: $11,500

17700 Winston Street, Detroit, MI 48219

$17,000

5300 3 Mile Drive, Detroit, MI 48224

This house in the Morningside neighborhood is only partially renovated, hence its sale price. Built in 1926, a giant fieldstone chimney is its most prominent architectural feature.
Beds: 3
Baths: 1.5
SF: Unknown

5300 3 Mile Drive, Detroit, MI 48224

$13,000

15884 Indiana Street, Detroit, MI 48238

This pointy home might be the best of the bunch. Just south of Marygrove College in the Fitzgerald neighborhood, it comes with newer wood floors and a fireplace.
Beds: 4
Baths: 2
SF: 1,555 sqft

15884 Indiana Street, Detroit, MI 48238

$12,000

2061 Gladstone Street, Detroit, MI 48206

A giant duplex just outside Boston-Edison asks just $12,000. Each unit has three bedrooms, a fireplace, and an enclosed porch. Hardwood floors and new windows are also part of the deal.
Beds: 6
Baths: 2
SF: 3,000

2061 Gladstone Street, Detroit, MI 48206