How much house does $500,000 buy you in Los Angeles?

Back in 2014, spending $500,000 on a house was generally reserved for high earners. The typical U.S. home sold for $159,000, while starter homes averaged just $101,000. Fast-forward to today, and prices have more than doubled: A standard home now sells for $440,000, with starter homes approaching $300,000. 

These current prices have put homeownership out of reach for many – and things don't look to be improving. Prices are still rising, affordability keeps dropping, and starter homes are becoming harder to find as home values climb. This has created a very sluggish and difficult housing market. In fact, even the usual busy spring and summer buying seasons were unusually slow this year.

While $500,000 once stretched much further, in many cities today, it's not nearly enough. But what about Los Angeles?

To find out, Redfin Real Estate found listings near the $500,000 mark to see what types of homes you can actually afford in Los Angeles right now. Listings below $500,000 were included if necessary.

151 E 92Nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,844
- See 151 E 92Nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90003 on Redfin.com

44934 Hanstead Ave, Lancaster, CA 93535
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,160
- See 44934 Hanstead Ave, Lancaster, CA 93535 on Redfin.com

44559 Aspen St, Lancaster, CA 93535
- Price: $499,999
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,375
- See 44559 Aspen St, Lancaster, CA 93535 on Redfin.com

8204 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90047
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,374
- See 8204 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90047 on Redfin.com

44108 Gadsden Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,509
- See 44108 Gadsden Ave, Lancaster, CA 93534 on Redfin.com

8021 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,304
- See 8021 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90044 on Redfin.com

5806 W Avenue K3, Lancaster, CA 93536
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,541
- See 5806 W Avenue K3, Lancaster, CA 93536 on Redfin.com

42620 Wauconda Dr, Lake Hughes, CA 93532
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,536
- See 42620 Wauconda Dr, Lake Hughes, CA 93532 on Redfin.com

13500 Ramona Pkwy, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,498
- See 13500 Ramona Pkwy, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 on Redfin.com

13959 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,423
- See 13959 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401 on Redfin.com

18958 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,095
- See 18958 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335 on Redfin.com

14325 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,209
- See 14325 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342 on Redfin.com

29641 S Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,207
- See 29641 S Western Ave, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 on Redfin.com

20000 Plum Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,001
- See 20000 Plum Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 on Redfin.com

309 N Willowbrook Ave, Compton, CA 90220
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 880
- See 309 N Willowbrook Ave, Compton, CA 90220 on Redfin.com

525 S Berendo St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 867
- See 525 S Berendo St, Los Angeles, CA 90020 on Redfin.com

220 W 101St St, Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 796
- See 220 W 101St St, Los Angeles, CA 90003 on Redfin.com

321 W 120Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90061
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,200
- See 321 W 120Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90061 on Redfin.com

318 W 64Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,003
- See 318 W 64Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90003 on Redfin.com

433 E 74Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90003
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 854
- See 433 E 74Th St, Los Angeles, CA 90003 on Redfin.com

1942 Hawaii St, West Covina, CA 91792
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 850
- See 1942 Hawaii St, West Covina, CA 91792 on Redfin.com

3081 Guirado St, Los Angeles, CA 90023
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 798
- See 3081 Guirado St, Los Angeles, CA 90023 on Redfin.com

4265 Marina City Dr, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
- Price: $499,999
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 935
- See 4265 Marina City Dr, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 on Redfin.com

5334 Lindley Ave, Encino, CA 91316
- Price: $499,999
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 923
- See 5334 Lindley Ave, Encino, CA 91316 on Redfin.com

1234 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 830
- See 1234 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017 on Redfin.com

5875 Doverwood Dr, Culver City, CA 90230
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 823
- See 5875 Doverwood Dr, Culver City, CA 90230 on Redfin.com

1730 Camino Palmero St, Los Angeles, CA 90046
- Price: $499,999
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 772
- See 1730 Camino Palmero St, Los Angeles, CA 90046 on Redfin.com

3601 W Hidden Ln, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 659
- See 3601 W Hidden Ln, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 on Redfin.com

123 N Magnolia Ct, Compton, CA 90220
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 575
- See 123 N Magnolia Ct, Compton, CA 90220 on Redfin.com

877 Francisco St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
- Price: $500,000
- 0 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 629
- See 877 Francisco St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 on Redfin.com