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Obviously, the affordability of a home in your area has a huge impact on your standard of living. It varies widely throughout different areas of the united states. So widely in fact, that it sometimes appears to have no correlation with reality (not realty). Here is a sampling of what you can be faced with if you are transfered by your employer or just want to explore opportunity in different parts of the country. Although sagging real estate markets made the news, in many cases these were only much needed corrections to keep raging markets in check. In 45 of the top 148 metro U.S. markets, real estate prices fell. The hardest hit were homeowners in Detroit, who faced average double digit declines. In 102 markets, prices actually kept on rising, adding value to home owner's properties, while frustrating those still trying to enter the market.

Here is an example of the difference you can expect depending on where you will be purchasing a new home. It's pretty dramatic. I looked at homes priced from $275,000 - $300,000 in 6 major U.S. markets, courtesy of Realtor.com.

Seattle – Here's what 275,000 of your housing dollars will let you settle up in in the Emerald City. Not much, is it?

#1 - $275,500 – An 880 square foot, 3 bed / 1 bath on a 3,495 sq ft lot. Cozy, huh?

#2 - $284,450 – A 970 sq foot, 3 bed / 1 bath, 20 miles south of downtown, on a much larger lot @ 13,939 sq feet. Home built in 1955.

Houston – Movin' on up and spending the same dough.

#1 – $297,950 - 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 3,389 Sq. Ft., 0.22 Acres, stainless appliances, slab granite counter tops, island kitchen, on future golf course fairway, Home built in 2005.

#2 - $275,000, 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 2,930 Sq. Ft., 0.19 Acres, island kitchen with granite counter tops, in a gated community with a manned gate, built in 1995

Boston, MA – Up to the land of the Big Dig. Only 25 homes were even listed in this price range. Pretty slim pickens, huh?

#1 - $277,900 - 3 Bed, 1 Bath, 1,115 Sq. Ft., 0.15 Acres, renovated in 2003, built in 1900, near community golf course.

#2 - $280,000 - 2 Bed, 1 Bath, 704 Sq. Ft., 0.1 Acres in Hyde Park area, built in 1955, near community golf and tennis.

Kansas City, MO – If you're relocating to the mid-west, things are lookin' good -

#1 - $284,900 - 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 2,668 Sq. Ft., hardwood floors, island kitchen, built 2006.

#2 - $299,900 - 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 2,539 Sq. Ft., .22 Acre lot, Corian counter tops, island kitchen, built in 2005, 10 min to airport

San Diego, CA – Out on the Pacific, these dollars won't get you nearly as much. I hope the sun's worth it.

#1 - $299,000 – 1 bed, 1 bath, view bungalow, built in 1922.

#2 - $275,000 - 1 Bed, 1 Bath, 540 Sq. Ft., 0.08 Acres, built in 1925.

Columbia, SC -
#1 - $299,900 - 4 Bed, 4 Bath, 3,170 Sq. Ft., 0.46 Acres, laminate counter tops, heat pump, built in the early 1980's

#2 - $279,900 - 3 Bed, 3 Bath, 2,305 Sq. Ft, 8,900 Sq. Ft. lot, laminate counter tops, backs to state park

So, what you'll live in varies widely throughout the nation, to say the least. Keep that in mind when that plum job offer comes through.