What $200,000 Will Buy

If you live in an urban area of the country such as New York or Los Angeles, you might be able to afford a small house in a suburb. In San Francisco, you can get a tiny studio apartment. On the other hand, nice family homes are to be had in Phoenix or Columbus, Ohio.

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San Francisco: $199,000

A 520-square-foot fifth-floor studio apartment in the trendy but still spotty Tenderloin district.

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Phoenix: $197,500

A single-story home built on a corner lot in 1991. It measures 1,800 square feet and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a family room, a two-car garage and a pool.

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Downey: $206,000

A 1,072-square-foot home with three bedrooms and one bathroom. It was built in 1950. It has a patio and a one-car garage.

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Columbus, Ohio: $199,500

A home with three bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms in 1,823 square feet. The home, built in 1992, also has a basement, a loft, a family room, a den and a fireplace. It has a two-car garage and a deck.

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: $199,000

A Colonial-style 1,100-square-foot home with three bedrooms and one bathroom. It was built in 1900. It has a basement, an eat-in kitchen and a one-car garage.

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Sources: Times research, Realtor.com