How much house does $500,000 buy you in Grand Rapids?

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 Grand Rapids?

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

6704 Riga Ave Ne, Rockford, MI 49341
- Price: $499,999
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,442
- See 6704 Riga Ave Ne, Rockford, MI 49341 on Redfin.com

11496 4 Mile Rd, Belding, MI 48809
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,684
- See 11496 4 Mile Rd, Belding, MI 48809 on Redfin.com

3560 Richmond St Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49534
- Price: $499,999
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,750
- See 3560 Richmond St Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 on Redfin.com

3750 Benjamin Ave Ne, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,098
- See 3750 Benjamin Ave Ne, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 on Redfin.com

11775 Crystal Ridge Dr Ne, Sparta, MI 49345
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,012
- See 11775 Crystal Ridge Dr Ne, Sparta, MI 49345 on Redfin.com

9026 Weston Dr, Coopersville, MI 49404
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,430
- See 9026 Weston Dr, Coopersville, MI 49404 on Redfin.com

5157 Blendon Meadow Cir, Hudsonville, MI 49426
- Price: $499,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,392
- See 5157 Blendon Meadow Cir, Hudsonville, MI 49426 on Redfin.com

15899 Fillmore St, West Olive, MI 49460
- Price: $498,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,276
- See 15899 Fillmore St, West Olive, MI 49460 on Redfin.com

1853 Trillium Cir Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,483
- See 1853 Trillium Cir Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 on Redfin.com

10724 Greyhound Ave, Allendale, MI 49401
- Price: $499,995
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,237
- See 10724 Greyhound Ave, Allendale, MI 49401 on Redfin.com

678 Elstar Dr, Rockford, MI 49341
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,144
- See 678 Elstar Dr, Rockford, MI 49341 on Redfin.com

1450 Kimber Dr, Lowell, MI 49331
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,048
- See 1450 Kimber Dr, Lowell, MI 49331 on Redfin.com

850 Sargent Ave Se, Ada, MI 49301
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,524
- See 850 Sargent Ave Se, Ada, MI 49301 on Redfin.com

239 S Waverly Rd, Holland, MI 49423
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,811
- See 239 S Waverly Rd, Holland, MI 49423 on Redfin.com

11010 5 Mile Rd Ne, Lowell, MI 49331
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,719
- See 11010 5 Mile Rd Ne, Lowell, MI 49331 on Redfin.com

2462 Highridge Ln Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
- Price: $497,500
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,679
- See 2462 Highridge Ln Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 on Redfin.com

4735 Forest Vale Rd, Pierson, MI 49339
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,667
- See 4735 Forest Vale Rd, Pierson, MI 49339 on Redfin.com

7583 Brook Villa Ct, Allendale, MI 49401
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,234
- See 7583 Brook Villa Ct, Allendale, MI 49401 on Redfin.com

15415 Coalter Ave, Kent City, MI 49330
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,730
- See 15415 Coalter Ave, Kent City, MI 49330 on Redfin.com

83 Cummings Ave Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49534
- Price: $495,364
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,682
- See 83 Cummings Ave Nw, Grand Rapids, MI 49534 on Redfin.com

6422 Foxtail Meadows Dr Ne, Rockford, MI 49341
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,440
- See 6422 Foxtail Meadows Dr Ne, Rockford, MI 49341 on Redfin.com

715 Gladstone Dr Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,206
- See 715 Gladstone Dr Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49506 on Redfin.com

1725 Thyme Dr, Byron Center, MI 49315
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,035
- See 1725 Thyme Dr, Byron Center, MI 49315 on Redfin.com

2376 Bob White Ct Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,310
- See 2376 Bob White Ct Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 on Redfin.com

11593 Greenly St, Holland, MI 49424
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,740
- See 11593 Greenly St, Holland, MI 49424 on Redfin.com

17180 Warrior Dr, Howard City, MI 49329
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,160
- See 17180 Warrior Dr, Howard City, MI 49329 on Redfin.com

2757 Cascade Springs Dr Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,245
- See 2757 Cascade Springs Dr Se, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 on Redfin.com

2661 S Shore Dr, Crystal, MI 48818
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,680
- See 2661 S Shore Dr, Crystal, MI 48818 on Redfin.com

11376 Shoreline Dr, Allendale, MI 49401
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,668
- See 11376 Shoreline Dr, Allendale, MI 49401 on Redfin.com

868 Bridge Walk Ct Se, Ada, MI 49301
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,551
- See 868 Bridge Walk Ct Se, Ada, MI 49301 on Redfin.com