Buying a home is likely the most expensive purchase you’ll make in your lifetime, making it a high-stakes decision.
Across the country, the median cost of homes on the market is $254,000. And buyers in Tulsa, OK can expect to pay a median price of about $174,000. Though $80,000 cheaper than the national median, that sum may still be out of budget for many buyers.
If Tulsa is your ideal location but out of your budget, consider shopping in markets nearby that offer home inventory with a lesser price tag. Here are four cities to consider if you’re looking to buy a home and still afford the cost of a professional mover.
Glenpool
Just 15 miles south of Tulsa is Glenpool — a low-crime community far safer than the city but only a short commute from downtown. Glenpool listings recently dropped below the cost of Tulsa houses, with a median listing price of $172,000 — just $2,000 shy of Tulsa. However, 23.4 percent of Glenpool’s active listings underwent price cuts, indicating a buyers market.
If Tulsa seems like a good fit for you, Glenpool should be, too, based on proximity. The median age in Glenpool is 32, with an 18 percent single population. The city includes Black Gold Park with walking trails, soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a horseshoe pit and a skate park. Glenpool is also not far from the Arkansas River, White Hawk Golf Club or Oklahoma Aquarium.
Sapulpa
Roughly 15 miles southwest of Tulsa, and less than 10 miles from Glenpool, is the city of Sapulpa. The median price of homes on the market in Sapulpa is $110,000 — a $64,000 savings from Tulsa. The market conditions favor buyers here, too, with 17.9 percent of the current listings experiencing price cuts.
Sapulpa is another low-crime community, with a median age of 41 and a steep single population of about 30 percent. The town offers a variety of attractions, including Sapulpa Historical Museum, Kelly Lane Park with a playground and fishing hole or Oklahoma Aquarium, about equidistant from Glenpool. A bit farther north is Chandler Park with trails, baseball fields and a public pool.
Muskogee
Along the Arkansas River, about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa, is the city of Muskogee. Here, the median listing price is $80,100 — less than half the cost of homes in Tulsa, offering the steepest savings of all the recommended markets. Although Muskogee is a bit farther from the big city than the previous locations, crime is far less common here than in Tulsa. Approximately 18.6 percent of the for-sale listings in Muskogee underwent price cuts.
In Muskogee, 38 percent of the population is single, and the median age is 37. The city offers something entertaining for just about everyone. Residents enjoy Honor Heights Park, a 122-acre arboretum and botanical garden, along with River Country Water Park, Creek Nation Casino Muscogee, Cobblestone Golf Club or Eagle Crest Golf Course. You’ll also find Muskogee War Memorial Park, home of the USS Batfish, a World War II submarine.
Eufaula
Farthest from Tulsa, about 83 miles southeast, is the waterfront city of Eufaula. The community boasts 600 miles of shoreline property along Lake Eufaula — the largest lake in Oklahoma that’s excellent for boating, fishing or swimming. The median asking price for available homes in Eufaula is $152,000 — about a $22,000 reduction from Tulsa. Only 9.7 percent of the current listings here experienced price cuts.
The median age in this low-crime area is 48, with 34 percent of the population currently single. Beyond the attractive amenity of Lake Eufaula, the city offers Posey Park, Creek Nation Casino Eufaula and Eufaula Cove Amphitheatre, a 15,000-person outdoor venue.
Whatever community features attract you to Tulsa, you may find an equally appealing neighborhood nearby that’ll pad your wallet more than big-city living.
Guest post by Joe Sturgeon