7 of the Prettiest Houses Under $500,000 to Hit the Market in 2022

Scrolling through real estate listings looking at various dream homes is a tough job but, hey, someone’s gotta do it! Half the fun of receiving tips and scouring listing sites for Property Crush potential is the joy of the find — stumbling across a home with an unusual facade, gloriously low price point, or unbelievable interior design, and then getting to highlight it on Apartment Therapy.

While everyone else analyzes their Spotify wrapped playlists or creates their “dating wrapped” PowerPoints, I’ve gone through all of the Property Crushes from the past year to create a house hunting wrapped of sorts. Below, find seven of my favorite home features from 2022 — which all listed for less than $500,000.

Some of the most astonishing ‘60s and ‘70s interiors are hidden inside seemingly average-looking houses. That’s certainly the case for this groovy spot in Burlington, Colorado, which is on the market for just $71 per square foot. The three-bedroom brick home appears unassuming from the street. But inside, it unleashes a wave of colors and textures, thanks to blazing orange shag carpets, wood paneling, and more. 

Judging by the low-profile, wooden-sided exterior of this single-story home, you wouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary going on inside — which makes the reveal of clicking through the photos all the more glorious. Smoked mirror tiles line the ceiling of the foyer, which leads into a living room that’ll stop you in your tracks: Wall-to-wall plush teal carpeting and curved built-in couches are anchored around a freestanding gas fireplace with a cylindrical mirrored chimney hovering above, making it look like a giant disco centerpiece. 

Lovers of a home with history will have no choice but to fall for this former schoolhouse, which dates back to 1759. From the old-school (pun intended) cupola to the date card affixed to the facade, it’s not hard to tell that this building once served as the area’s academy through the 19th century. But stepping inside you won’t find a single stuffy textbook or cramped classroom. Thanks to the previous owners, who were furniture makers, the antique institution has been deliberately updated into a fresh, open-concept home.

Stationed on a small, rocky island off the coast of mainland Maine, this quintessential Cape looks like the perfect spot to preserve the summertime mindset. Built in 1941 as a studio, the square footage is compact. The floor plan, just shy of 860 square feet, comprises two adorable bedrooms, one and a half baths, and a big open living area. The home also claims a front and back deck, where you can dust the sand off your feet after taking a stroll around the island, which is primarily reserved for walking around. 

This home’s mid-century modern design prioritizes bringing the outdoors in, and keeps the interior beautifully simple. Pale wooden floors, an elegant mantle-free fireplace, and warm paneled walls give the living room an elevated cabin feel. Wide windows look directly into the surrounding trees, making it look like you’re living in a treehouse. From the bottom of the sloping hill it sits on, the low-profile home is a wooden rectangle with a red front door all but ensconced by the surrounding nature which bursts into a kaleidoscope of colors in the autumn. 

Tucked onto Perry Street just off Greenwich Street, this studio co-op isn’t just full of charm thanks to its West Village locale. Up on the top floor, this home features bright white walls, south-facing windows, and tall ceilings that make the cozy space feel larger. A brick-and-wood decorative fireplace adds to the warmth, while a shiny pendant light that almost looks like a futuristic disco ball amps up the cool factor. An added bonus? The building enjoys a secluded back courtyard, complete with a bike parking, a grill, and even a fountain.

From the vibrant teal exterior to the sunset orange front door, this floating home is eye-catching in the best way. Docked right along the Columbia River, this charming home lives on scenic Hayden Island in Portland, Oregon. At a glance, the multi-angled roof lines and asymmetrical windows marry with the wood siding to give the home a look that is modern, funky, and rustic all at once. When the sun sets, seeing the windows aglow with warm light beckons you inside. If the entire space feels artfully designed to you, you’re on to something: The previous owner was also a painter whose work is characterized by “abstract marks, bold colors, and gold highlights,” according to her website.