What $475,000 buys you in Massachusetts, the District of Columbia and Arkansas

Great Barrington is one of Berkshire’s most popular year-round destinations: spring and summer attract walkers; autumn attracts the voyeurs of leaves; and winter attracts skiers and snowboarders. Butternut Ski Area and Tubing Center on the edge of East Mountain State Forest is a five-minute drive away, as is an access point to the Appalachian Trail.

Main Street, which runs along the Housatonic River, is lined with antique shops and restaurants. It also has a theater dating back to the early 1900s, which serves as a space for the performing arts, and a newer theater that shows independent films. Albany, NY, is about an hour away; Boston is two and a half hours away.

Cut: 1,424 square feet

Price per square foot: $334

Inside: From the street, a path connects the sidewalk to the enclosed porch. Just inside is the front door, which opens into a hall. To the right is a sunny living room with original oak floors and windows overlooking the porch; to the left is a home office behind a sliding barn-style door.

Beyond the living room is a dining area with a bay window and enough space for a table that seats six. The dining room and foyer have access to the kitchen, which has updated appliances, a center island, breakfast bar, and the same oak floors that run through the living room and dining room. To one side of the kitchen is a cloakroom; at the other is a half bathroom and a laundry room.

The master bedroom is up the stairs, with two windows facing the street and a good sized closet. Across the hall are two bedrooms: one large enough for a queen-size bed and a smaller one that can be used as a playroom or children’s room. All three bedrooms share a single bathroom with black and white tiled floors and a combined tub and shower.

Outdoor space: The front porch and mudroom have ample seating space and wide windows to view the property’s mature trees. A two-car garage is separate from the main house; behind is a large backyard with a fire pit and ample space to gather.

Taxes: $6,552 (estimated)

Contact: Elle Villetto, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, 413-717-7534; sothebysrealty.com


This home is in Deanwood, a section of northeast Washington between the Anacostia River and the Maryland state line. The area is popular with first-time buyers, as many homes have backyards — a hot commodity in the city — and the Minnesota Avenue subway station is nearby, making it easy to get to Capitol Hill.

A trail along Watts Branch Creek is a few blocks away and leads to the Anacostia River. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, a National Park Service site with one of Washington’s largest remaining tidal marshes, is less than 10 minutes away by car.

Cut: 1,440 square feet

Price per square foot: $330

Inside: The house is situated on a slope, with wooden steps leading to the covered porch. Across the threshold is a living room and dining room with new parquet floors and new paint, part of a complete renovation carried out this year. The windows are also new, as is the insulation, and the lights can be controlled by Wi-Fi.

A dark blue accent wall extends from the living room at the front of the main level to a kitchen at the back, with quartz counter tops, a herringbone tile backsplash and soft closing cabinets.

Both bedrooms are off the living room: the master bedroom has another blue accent wall, as well as a window overlooking the porch; the adjoining bathroom has a shower with herringbone tiles and cabinets with gold hardware. The guest bedroom has a ceiling fan and enough space for a double bed. next door is a full bath with blue cabinetry, a double marble vanity, and a folding door that hides a washer and dryer.

A second loft-like level with windows at each end provides plenty of space for a home office setup.

Outdoor space: A terrace at the back, added during the renovation, leads down to a fenced yard. The terrace is large enough to hold a dining table and a barbecue, and there is room for a garden in the courtyard.

Taxes: $1,956 (estimated)

Contact: Simon Sarver, Compass, 703-509-4300; compass.com


This property is nearly an acre, which gives it a sense of privacy despite its proximity to downtown Little Rock, about 15 minutes away. River Mountain Park, popular with mountain bikers, is two miles away; a boat launch and a small bridge connect it to Two Rivers Park on the Arkansas River.

A mall with a grocery store and several casual restaurants is about a mile and a half away. Jefferson Elementary School, one of the highest ranked in the state, is less than 10 minutes away, as is the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Cut: 3,253 square feet

Price per square foot: $146

Inside: The house is set back from the street, with a driveway on one side leading to a carport.

Double entry doors open into a foyer with hardwood floors. To the left is an open living area with pot lights, a floor-to-ceiling brick-framed fireplace, and space for a dining table next to the sitting area.

The updated kitchen, which has white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances including a double oven, is separated from the dining area by a breakfast bar with more white cabinetry. Next to the kitchen is a combination home office and butler’s pantry; it has a washer and dryer, plus a custom closet system with a gift-wrapping station.

Two bedrooms are on this level, off a hall that extends from the hall. The master suite has a walk-in closet and bathroom with a deep soaking tub and separate shower. Adjacent is a guest suite with its own bathroom.

The lower level, accessible by stairs from the main hallway, includes two more bedrooms and a full bathroom with a combination tub and shower, as well as a family room with access to the backyard.

Outdoor space: The backyard is relatively flat and has a children’s playground with swings, ladder and trampoline. This part of the yard is surrounded by mature trees; a few mature trees also line the driveway leading to the carport.

Taxes: $2,328 (estimated)

Contact: Cara Hazlewood, The Real Estate Group, 501-993-3326; redfin.com

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