The other day I found a list of property prices I'd compiled back in 2000 while house-hunting in my area... it's heartbreaking: "3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with ocean view on 1 acre... $49,900"; "3 bedroom on 80 acres of woods, $52,000", etc. Granted that these were located far from the nearest city, but that $50K today will at best get you an acre-sized building lot along the highway