I can't speak for Memphis (which afaict is doing basically okay) but you can get some DEALS in places that are authentically economically depressed. Check the real estate listings in, say, Oil City, PA where you can buy a Victorian mansion for $60k bsky.app/profile/disc...

Yeah oil city is a dump ridgway PA is the place to be though

Yea Memphis is too expensive * for the wages* that are paid. They're trying to gentrify South Memphis ( traditionally black) somewhat and push us out but its a patchwork

There's always a house or two available for about $120k in Kemmerer. Scenic Kemmerer, right near the Grand Tetons! Home of the historic first-ever Penney's department store! Oh, and it's a dying coal-mining town.

Just to be perfectly clear and I cannot stress this enough: do not move to Oil City, PA. There is a good reason people do not want to live there!

Oil City is not a real city though. It is like 300 miles from any culture or employment center.

Uuuh, yeah, that Victorian mansion? Is unlivable. It's a pattern I keep seeing: if a house looks affordable, it's because it's a "contractor special": completely trashed, nothing's up to code, no bank will finance it for actual living in--it's for flippers, investors, or developers.