Just been looking into where you can actually snag an apartment or condo for under $100K, and honestly it's way harder than it sounds. Most places are either investor-owned and rented out, or you're looking at condos and co-ops with different rules. But there are definitely some cities where it's still doable if you're willing to look around.

I found this study that looked at actual markets, and some of the options are pretty interesting. Austin's got pockets of affordability if you go to the outskirts or older areas, even though the city's been growing like crazy. Cincinnati's got a low cost of living overall, so condos and apartments under $100K are actually realistic there. Indianapolis is similar - Midwest affordability - though you'd probably need to check the suburbs. Orlando's got a ton of condo supply which drives prices down, and Portland has options if you search outside the main city areas. Salt Lake City's another one where the market's stable enough that you can find stuff under $100K, especially in the surrounding areas.

The thing is, you really have to understand what you're buying into. With a condo you get the deed to the unit, so it's more like owning a home. Co-ops are different though - you're buying a share in the building, and the board requirements are stricter. There's also rent-to-own deals if you want to go that route. Honestly, if you're serious about this, you need to be patient and look at multiple markets. The median condo prices in major cities range from like $161K in Cleveland up to $800K in San Francisco, so there's a huge spread depending on where you're looking.