By ,
Published January 31, 2017
With open floor plans and all rooms easy to access on one main level, Ranch-style homes are timeless. Popular for decades, these box-shaped homes feature a long, low roofline and exteriors usually made of brick or stucco.
For buyers in search of a touch of Mid-Century Modern style, Ranch-style homes are a smart plan. For first-time home buyers, or those seeking a bargain, these homes are an ideal choice because their prices aren't as steep as true Mid-Century Modern classics.
Another perk? They're often built on large lots, which opens up the possibility of a patio, Tiki bar, or cool landscape. If you're lucky, you may find one where previous owners haven't ripped out the wood paneling or replaced the carport with a garage.
Other features commonly associated with the Ranch-style house include sliding patio doors, a pass-through to the kitchen, and a living room with brick fireplace and multipaned window. Oh, and there are finished basements to host groovy parties -- spinning records, of course.
We went in search of radical Ranch-style bargains and found these six sweethearts -- all listed for less than $200,000.
116 Indian Hills Road, Manor, PA
Price: $175,000
So radical: Designed by a protg of Frank Lloyd Wright, this three-bedroom home on over an acre is only a half-hour drive from Pittsburgh. It's a 1954 Better Homes & Gardens model that "will put the cookie cutter home to shame!" Some of the retro goodies preserved in the house are a Chambers Copper built-in oven and cooktop, redwood ceilings and walls, and a brick wall with an embedded fireplace in the living room. The unique U-shape design carves out a sweet little courtyard perfect for entertaining.
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Price: $195,000
So radical: This Gulf Coast city is celebrated for its Mid-Century Modern architecture, which inspired this self-guided driving tour of Sarasota homes. Behind the turquoise door of this three-bedroom Ranch lurk a ton of updates, including a newly screened-in porch, a new roof, and completely redone plumbing. An updated kitchen with sliding patio doors means you'll host awesome parties.
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10411 W. Devonshire Ave, Phoenix, AZ
Price: $164,900
So radical: Red double doors perk up the brick exterior of this three-bedroom Ranch. Inside, modern updates take a starring role: granite countertops in both bathrooms and the kitchen, plus new light fixtures and wood-laminate flooring throughout. Brick walls enclose the yard, and a carport is wide enough to keep two cars cool on a scorching desert day.
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Price: $195,000
So radical: Bamboo flooring, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances bring this three-bedroom Ranch-style home into the present day. However, period details haven't been abandoned; just check out the built-ins in two of the rooms. Pick mangoes off the backyard tree for tropical cocktails and position some iron-frame hoop chairs on the front porch, and it's 1957 all over again.
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1914 Windsor Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA
Price: $164,900
So radical: Check out that goldenrod front door against a charcoal-gray exterior! Within this four-bedroom beauty is a brand-new kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and espresso-stained cabinets. Granite countertops were recently installed in the kitchen and bathroom. You can entertain on the deck or in the refinished basement.
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4444 S. New York Ave, Saint Francis, WI
Price: $139,900
So radical: Tucked into a quiet suburb six miles south of downtown Milwaukee and along Lake Michigan, this three-bedroom Ranch home built in 1953 is cute as a button. A finished lower level and large yard expand your living space, as does an oversize garage and patio.
https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/6-rad-ranch-style-homes-under-200k