Purchasing a home is a huge financial investment. When an individual obtains a home, he/she will spend a large portion of his/her life paying for the real estate. As a result, an individual may seek to obtain a cheap home. There are currently thousands of cheap homes for sale throughout the United States. Due to the economic crisis currently plaguing the nation, housing prices have dropped significantly. Therefore, an individual can locate homes for much cheaper than was possible a few years ago. One of the most effective ways for people to obtain affordable homes is by purchasing repossessed homes for sale. Repossessed homes are homes that have been foreclosed, due to a home owner’s inability to pay his/her monthly mortgage payments. When a home is foreclosed, a bank or lender loses a significant amount of money, and is eager to have a new individual occupy the residence and continue making mortgage payments. As a result, repossessed homes for sale are often listed for much less than their actual value. An individual who is seeking cheap homes for sale should consider foreclosed homes. Foreclosed homes are currently available in states throughout the country. Another way in which an individual can locate cheap homes for sale is by considering less popular locations. Homes that are located in rural areas are small towns are usually much less expensive than homes located in suburbs and urban cities. Prices also vary significantly by state. For example, it is notably more expensive to purchase property in New York, New Jersey, and California than it is to purchase a home in states such as Louisiana and Tennessee.