Hope, Idaho | $795,000
A one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage built in 1965, on a 0.4-acre lot
This home is near the banks of Lake Pend Oreille and a five-minute drive from a public boat-launch area. A pizzeria and a restaurant and bar on the lake, a post office and a small chapel are within a mile of the house. The Schweitzer ski resort, a popular winter sports destination, is less than an hour away.
The closest metropolitan areas — Coeur d’Alene, in the northwestern part of the state, and Spokane, Wash. — are under two hours away. Boise is an eight-hour drive. The Canadian border is about 90 minutes away, and Calgary is a seven-hour drive.
Size: 837 square feet
Price per square foot: $950
Indoors: The front door opens into a small foyer with wide-plank hardwood floors. This space flows into a living-and-dining area with honey-colored wood walls and ceilings, a sleek fireplace with a corrugated-metal surround and French doors that open to the side of the property.
The living area is open to an updated kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher, a range and a dedicated wine refrigerator integrated into the center island. Around the corner, a stacked washer and dryer sit next to a door to the yard.
The bedroom, off the main living area, has a built-in closet and a wood-paneled accent wall. The bathroom is also in this part of the house; it has two basin-style sinks and a walk-in shower with a glass door.
Outdoor space: A small clearing next to the house is framed by mature trees, with a stone fire pit and space for chairs surrounding it. The adjoining lot is part of the property, and has water and sewer hookups that could serve an additional structure.
Taxes: $2,330 (estimated)
Contact: Casey Krivor, Tomlinson Sotheby’s International Realty, 208-290-6576; sothebysrealty.com
Austin, Texas | $799,000
A 1969 house converted into two units, each with two bedrooms and one bathroom, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is on the east side of Austin, a few blocks from a busy stretch of East Cesar Chavez Street, where dining and nightlife options include a combined bar and record store, several barbecue spots and a vegan restaurant. Pan American Neighborhood Park, which has a playground and a wading pool, is also nearby, and an H-E-B grocery store is half a mile away.
Barton Springs Municipal Pool, a popular spot for swimming year-round, is a 15-minute drive. The Texas Capitol Complex and the main campus of the University of Texas at Austin are 10 minutes away.
Size: 1,880 square feet
Price per square foot: $425
Indoors: The entrance to the main unit is in the middle of the building’s covered front porch; the entrance to the rear unit is around the corner.
The main unit’s front door opens into a bright living room with front- and side-yard-facing windows. The adjoining dining area has an accent wall covered in faux greenery. Beyond is a cheerful kitchen with green and white cabinetry and counters made of butcher block.
Both bedrooms in this unit are on the second floor, reached by stairs in the living room. The primary bedroom is big enough to hold a queen-size bed; the en suite bathroom has black-and-white tile floors and built-in shelving. The second bedroom is across the hall.
The rear unit’s entry is through two glass doors that open into the dining area. The living room is on one side of this space, through a wide archway. The kitchen is on the other side, with updated appliances and open shelving.
One bedroom is in this part of the house, with double glass doors that open to a patio. The other bedroom is off the living room, along with a full bathroom.
Outdoor space: The front yard feels private, thanks to a fence running along the street, and the front porch is wide enough to hold several chairs. The property also includes a walled courtyard on the side with room for a barbecue and a dining setup.
Taxes: $15,228 (estimated)
Contact: Beth Carter, Compass, 512-799-7427; compass.com
Portland, Ore. | $799,000
A 1927 bungalow with two bedrooms and one bathroom, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is in a quiet neighborhood with easy access to outdoor space: Wallace Park, which has a dedicated dog area, is a few blocks away, as is Lower Macleay Park, connected by a walking and biking trail to Macleay Park, which has a community garden and a bird sanctuary.
The property is less than a block from Chapman Elementary School and less than a mile from Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. It is also close to NW 23rd Avenue, a bustling commercial corridor with coffee shops, markets and breweries. Downtown Portland is 10 minutes away by car or 25 minutes by public transit.
Size: 1,475 square feet
Price per square foot: $542
Indoors: Paved steps lead up from the street up to the covered front porch. From there, double glass doors open into a living room with hardwood floors and a fireplace with a yellow-brick surround flanked by built-in bookshelves.
The sunny dining room beyond has a built-in bench along one wall and windows overlooking the side yard. The kitchen, at the back of the house, has white cabinetry, white-tile counters and white appliances, as well as access to stairs to the unfinished basement.
The primary bedroom, off a short hallway extending from the dining room, includes a spacious walk-in closet. The guest room, off the living room, has a wall of built-in storage. They share a bathroom with a combined tub and shower.
Outdoor space: The property includes a flagstone patio framed by landscaping. The detached garage has one parking spot; there is room to park another car in the driveway, a perk in a neighborhood where street parking can be difficult to find.
Taxes: $9,502 (estimated)
Contact: Hope Beraka, Think Real Estate, 503-679-9243; think-portland.com
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