Real Estate: Binghamton, NY

I went to see Bob and Mary Lou the other day. They were thinking about buying a house in Endicott, NY, a suburb of Binghamton, where they currently have an apartment. The amazing thing about the real estate market in this neck of the woods is the price of residential property. The house pictured here, a two-family job with large living and dining rooms, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, has a nice yard and is just a short walk from downtown. Guess how much. Nope. Guess again. Wrong. This house, which could use a cosmetic fixup but is very livable as is, currently sells for $28,000! In spite of the low cost, Bob and Mary Lou have decided to remain in their apartment, at least for the time being. They would prefer something more rural.