Presently, the median value for a home in the U.S. hovers around $186,500, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. That is the mid-point of home values and means that exactly half of the home values in the U.S. are above this figure and half are below. While in some regions home values are significantly higher — New York, San Jose or Seattle, for instance, in other areas — like Oklahoma City, Cleveland or Tulsa — homes values are far less. Each location is different and home values ebb and flow depending on availability of jobs, city infrastructure, and price of living; all of these issues can impact an area’s median home value.

With that in mind, we took a look at homes in three cities for the price point of $200,000 (rounded up to this figure) to see what you can buy at this midpoint price, and researched factors driving home prices up or down in each metropolitan area.

Houston:

According to 2010 Census data, Houston grew 7.5 percent, up to a population of 2.1 million, to sit secure in its spot as the fourth-largest city in the U.S. — right behind Chicago, which has a population of 2.7 million. Houston’s sprawling metropolitan area — which now includes 10 counties — surged to a population of 5,946,800. Suburban areas just outside of Houston that were once pasture, are now populated by developments.

“There are lots of jobs [here] due to the energy corridor and the price of living is pretty good,” said real estate agent Scott Laird of Icon Real Estate.

While the recession has pushed the Houston housing market down, Laird believes it’s more stable than other parts of the country, explaining that the ability to expand has left Houston home values comparable to other metropolitan areas. Despite Houston’s rapid growth, $200,000 still gets a homeowner quite a bit of bang for their buck. For example, Clear Lake real estate is highly desirable.The 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath home below is located on a cul-de-sac lot and is listed for $199,900. It includes a large backyard, granite countertops, new floors and a new roof.

1807 Heather Cove Ct Houston, TX 77062 (below)
For Sale — $199,900

Columbus:

Like Houston, Columbus experienced rapid growth in the past ten years with a population increase of 10.6 percent, according to 2010 Census data, yet Columbus home values have remained fairly stable. As a matter of fact, Columbus has enjoyed a 10 percent month-over-month increase in home values. Much of the growth is attributed to jobs. As the state capitol, Columbus continues to attract government workers as well as being home to one of the country’s largest colleges, Ohio State University, another strong employer. In addition to the draw of employment, real estate agent Joshua Zimmerman of Coldwell Banker believes that Columbus’ city infrastructure is another incentive for people to live within its limits.

“The unique part of Columbus is that there’s no sprawl; it’s compact. You can get to popular neighborhoods in 5 to 10 minutes,” Zimmerman said. “Walkability and bikeability are really increasing, so people are trying to move into areas where there are grocery stores and coffee shops.”

To look at one Columbus neighborhood, Clintonville real estate is highly desirable because it’s “very walkable” (it boasts a Walk Score of 71) and is located near a bike path. The 3-bedroom, 2 bath home below also has a new kitchen, new bath and recently added back deck and patio.

104 W Lakeview Ave Columbus, OH (below)
For Sale — $199,000

Saint Louis:

As the oldest city of the bunch, Saint Louis has had declining population growth since the 1950s and its population now hovers around 320,000 — just “slightly above its post-Civil War population levels.” According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch business writer Tim Logan, one of the biggest contributors to the population decline is the movement of families with kids out to the suburbs. Census data shows that the city lost one-fourth of its under-18 population. But not all population decline is a bad thing for a city. The metropolitan area has slowly revitalized in the past few years with renovations of old apartments into condo buildings, and in one particular case, a conversion of an old church into an advertising, design and marketing firm. While there may be less people living in the city, business development has flourished and the city continues to attract typical urban dwellers: singles and empty-nesters.

Saint Louis home values hover around $110,000 and for $200,000, a buyer can get a condo downtown or, for a nearby St. Louis neighborhood, South Hampton real estate offers this renovated 2-bedroom, 1.5 bath home for $193,900.

5515 Itaska St. Saint Louis, MO (below)
For Sale — $193,900

Source: Robot Celeb

While Donald Trump is best known for barking, “you’re fired!” to the many businesspeople who have worked for him, he also said “you’re hired” to a beautiful Beverly Hills estate that was used to house the Season 6 candidates on Trump’s reality series “The Apprentice.” The home is currently on the rental market, looking for a long or short-term renter willing to pay a whopping $49,000/month.

Now 11 seasons deep, the sixth season of “The Apprentice” remains one to remember because it was the first season where candidates had to earn the right to live in the mansion. The alternative was living in “Tent City,” a location across from the mansion with a few camping tents and no electricity. As a result, Trump couldn’t choose just any piece of Beverly Hills real estate, but something overly luxurious. Boy, did he pick something incredible — a 9,000-sq ft home perched on top of 90210’s Mulholland Drive. The gated celebrity estate sits on a .89-acre lot and boasts 9 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, pool, spa, media room, kitchen with pizza oven, 4 bars, 3 reception rooms, and a 6-car garage.

Believe it or not, this home is not the priciest Beverly Hills home for rent; a Mediterranean villa is up for rent for $195,000/month.

Carl Wuestehube of Tri-Star Realty holds the listing for The Apprentice house.

See more photos of “The Apprentice” Season 6 house

Read more celebrity real estate news:

> Burt Reynolds’ Former Mansion Hits the Market at $10.9 Million

> Donald Trump Lists California Estate for $12 Million

> Molly Sims Lists Her Stylish Home for $2.8 Million

> Un-FORE-gettable! 10 Gorgeous Golf Homes

There are some things people feel strongly about: the coffee they drink, the state of their college’s basketball team, and surprisingly, what kind of light bulbs they use in their homes.

First victim: 100-watt incandescent bulb

Brace yourself: Starting in January 2012, to meet the requirements of the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, which was signed into law by former President George W. Bush, some incandescent bulbs will be phased out, starting with the 100-watt incandescent bulb. But, before you go out and start stock-piling incandescent bulbs, be aware that this does not mean all incandescent bulbs will be banned. It just means that “…American companies will stop making and importing 100 watt light bulbs.”  Also, if your favorite store still has the 100-watt incandescent bulbs in stock, you can buy them, but the supply won’t be re-stocked after it empties. You will still be able to buy 76, 60 and 40-watt incandescents until Jan. 1, 2014.

The CLEAN Energy Act requires new energy standards for light bulbs —specifically, lumens per watt, which measures the amount of light produced per watt used to power the bulb. The requirement is that all bulbs use 30 percent less energy. According to the National Lighting Bureau, compact florescent bulbs (CFL), produce about 62.5 lumens per watt, up to four times the lumens an incandescent bulb produces per watt.

Those energy savings translate into pocket savings. Consumer Reports found that the average American would save $57.55 per year by switching to CFLs, noting that one CFL bulb lasts as long as 10 incandescent bulbs. According to Energy Star, a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency, switching to CFLs, or any other non-incandescent bulbs such as LEDs or halogen lights, saves “about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.”

Issues with CFLs

While there’s little to argue in the way of  savings, there are concerns about the small amounts of mercury found in CFL bulbs. According to Russ Leslie, associate director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the actual amount of mercury found in one bulb is quite small —five milligrams —”just enough to cover a ballpoint pen tip,” he told Popular Mechanics. He concluded that the risks of getting mercury poisoning by a CFL are very slim.

However, if a CFL bulb does break, it will need to be handled in a different way than a normal incandescent: Air out the room by opening a window or door and vacuum up the glass and debris. Wearing gloves, clean the area with a damp paper towel. CFLs cannot be disposed through standard waste pickup but most home improvement stores, Home Depot, Wal-Mart,  or recycling centers have options for CFL disposal. Ask your local store or try searching Earth911.com for your nearest disposal location.

Despite  legislation, CFLs won’t replace every incandescent bulb, including most specialty bulbs — like the refrigerator bulb — three-way bulbs or shatter-resistant bulbs. Energy Star’s website has the full list of exemptions included in the Act.

Flickr photo: aimeewenske

Heads up, Easy-Bake fans

But, if you are an Easy-Bake oven fan, holding onto a few 100-watt incandescent bulbs may be a good idea. Hasbro’s popular children’s toy has long used a 100-watt bulb to “bake” its goodies.  To prepare for the new legislation, Hasbro is developing a new “Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven,” which uses a heating element that is not a light bulb; it is planned for release in fall 2011. In the meantime, Hasbro has also developed “Microwave & Style,” a new toy that cooks treats using a microwave, rather than the Easy-Bake oven.

If $1 million seems like a lot for a home, try $100 million — the final price paid by Russian investor Yuri Milner for a French chateau-style mansion in Silicon Valley.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the purchase is “highest known price paid for a single-family home in the U.S.” and is a sharp contrast to the median home price in the U.S. which hits at $177,200 (at this writing), and even above Los Altos Hills home values that are presently a whopping $2,o64,000. The sale was first reported to be $70 million by TechCrunch, which is still a remarkable price.

Source: Business Insider

Milner’s new 25,500-sq ft home in Los Altos has views of San Francisco and is within driving distance of many Silicon Valley tech companies, including one of Milner’s investments, Facebook. But despite his new purchase, the 49-year-old founder of Digital Sky Technologies (DST) doesn’t plan on moving to California anytime soon. His primary residence is a home in Russia that he shares with his wife and two children.

The limestone 5-bed, and 9-bath house, pictured below, sits on 11 acres and includes indoor and outdoor pools, a full wine cellar, and outdoor tennis court. Previously owned by Fred Chan, founder of ESS Technology, and Chan’s wife Annie, this enormous piece of  Los Altos Hills real estate was designed in 2001 and completed around 2009. The home was never publicly listed for sale, and Chan reportedly accepted a $50 million note on the house. The Chans currently reside in Hawaii.

Source: Google Earth

While the purchase won’t create a jump in normal home sales, it may be an indicator of a rebound in the luxury home market. This should give hope to Candy Spelling, who listed the Spelling Manor for a whopping $150 million in March 2009. Although only 4.7 acres, the Spelling Manor lists 56,500 square feet of “elegant living” including a billiard room, two-lane bowling alley,  and arcade room as well as indoor and outdoor pools.

See other notable homes:

> Top 10 Most Expensive Homes on Zillow (2010)

> Homes of Titans Who Rule the Tech World

> Once Sold For a Million (or More), Some Homes Now 50 Percent Off

Moments ago at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, we officially announced the launch of the Zillow BlackBerry App for Research in Motion’s BlackBerry smartphones. The launch of this new app — along with our apps for iPhone, iPad and Android — means more than 90 percent(1) of U.S. smartphone users can now access Zillow’s rich real estate information on more than 100 million properties anytime and anywhere.

We’re very excited to bring the Zillow mobile experience to one of the country’s largest smartphone bases. We first launched the Zillow app on iPhone in 2009 and have been expanding ever since. Today, home shoppers on iPhone, iPad and Android log 32,000 home views per hour. That’s nine home views per second.

The location-based Zillow BlackBerry App will be just as useful. The app uses GPS technology to find and follow users on an aerial map.  It displays Zestimate® home valuations, homes for sale, homes for rent, Rent Zestimates, Make Me Move listings and recently sold data on nearby homes. Additional features include multiple search filters; full-screen color photos of homes; and other home-related information.

With this launch, real estate agents will also have access to the app used by so many of their clients. Fifty-nine percent of agents tells us they use their smartphone to preview for-sale and for-rent properties with clients on the go.(2)  Among real estate agents, the BlackBerry (36%) and iPhone (22%) are the top two smartphone brands.(3)

We’re very excited today to be expanding the Zillow mobile experience to BlackBerry. Many of our fans have asked us to bring our transformative mobile experience to the BlackBerry platform, and we’re thrilled to give them this option today.

(1) According to the comScore MobiLens January 2011 Mobile Subscriber Market Share report.

(2) According to a February 2011 Zillow survey of site users.

(3) According to a 2010 REALTOR Technology Survey Report.

Best known for his tough-guy image, rugged good looks and memorable role in the 1977 hit film “Smokey and the Bandit,” actor Burt Reynolds apparently also had impeccable taste in modern mid-century architecture. Reynolds’ former Beverly Hills mansion is on the Los Angeles real estate market for $10.9 million, according to Steven Price, the author of “Over the Top, The Architectural History of Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills.”

Source: PondRocket.com

Built in 1967, Burt Reynolds’ Beverly Hills residence is anything but rugged — the 20,580-sq ft home overlooking Los Angeles is nearly all glass, allowing for sweeping views of the entire city and Pacific Ocean from almost every room.

The home is completely private, set back from the road in the star-studded neighborhood of Trousdale Estates. The Estates have long been a celebrity hangout, and notable residents have included Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, and Eddie Murphy. Jennifer Aniston is even trying to sell her own Trousdale Estates home — as a pocket listing.

Last sold in 2008 for $5 million, Reynolds’ pad has been completely updated by celebrity designer Steve Hermann. As the go-to designer for A-List stars, Hermann’s work is simple, elegant, and undeniably luxurious. His former clients include Frankie Muniz, Courtney Cox and David Arquette, and Christina Aguilera.

Hermann’s touches throughout Reynolds’ former estate include several water features at the entrance of the home as well as modern faucets, light fixtures and furniture from Italian designer brands Boffi, Poliform, and Bticino.

According to the Beverly Hills real estate listing, the 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home includes a spacious home theater that seats up to thirty, as well as terrace pool overlooking L.A. and the Pacific Ocean. Other amenities include a large family room and living room with 12-foot-high ceilings.

Beverly Hills has been Burt Reynolds’ primary residence for several years, however the 1970s sex symbol also owns property in Florida overlooking Jupiter Island.

Source: IMDb

Statuesque Molly Sims may be well-known as a model for CoverGirl, as well as her role in TV’s “Las Vegas,” but she is also making her mark with her interior design sensibilities. Sims’ Hollywood home, currently on the Los Angeles real estate market for $2.8 million, was featured in InStyle Home in 2005 and InStyle magazine in 2009.

Sims’ 1930s Spanish-style estate was renovated  in 2003 with the help of celebrity interior designer Kishani Perera, mixing new and old pieces to create a luxurious, but lived-in feel. Perera also designed Sims’ New York City loft, as well as the homes of actresses Kaitlin Olson, from “Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and Mary Lynn Rajskub from “24.”

The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is nothing short of glamorous. Sims’ choice of luxurious fabrics, modern prints — like a zebra-print rug in the front hall — and chic colors add to the estate’s overall sophistication, as well as boosts the Los Angeles home’s value. Even the bathrooms are designed thoughtfully with high ceilings, handsome gray stone tiles, and marble countertops.

Sims’ most recent design update, a redo on her office when the star launched her new line of jewelry, was featured in November 2009 InStyle magazine. The office has dramatic wall-papered walls, thick carpeting and was redesigned with “functionality” in mind, wrote designer Perera in her blog:

“I added some fun new pieces like an inspiration board (see photo below) for all of her thoughts and ideas, a gorgeous, antique vitrine from Emmerson Troop in L.A. to display her creations, and just for fun, a bunch of fab ikat toss cushions from Nathan Turner.”

The private home sits high above Hollywood with sweeping city views. French doors throughout the home lead to the walled exterior, a private pergola, and lush garden patios. The “cook’s kitchen” has Viking appliances and a full-sized wine refrigerator.

Sims’ home is listed by real estate agent Brett Karns of Keller Williams-Beverly Hills.

> See more Celebrity Real Estate news:

> Cher’s Former Home Listed With $2.7 Million Price Cut

> Christina Aguilera Puts Beverly Hills Home on Market for $13.5 Million

> Celebrities and Their Rentals

The 2011 PGA golf season is in full swing, but for many pro golfers every putt is just practice in preparation for the upcoming Master’s Tournament, or the battle for the green jacket. This year, the competition takes place April 4 -10 at Augusta National Golf Club, the number one ranked golf course on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. The remaining 99 courses included on the list, a ranking that started in 1966, are sprinkled all over the U.S. In honor of both the list and the quickly approaching tournament, we’ve rounded up a list of golfer’s dream homes, (some for sale), across the country where the owners are a few feet from the fairway and a golf membership is a standard home amenity.

Tiger Woods’ Home (below)

Source: DailyCeleb

One can’t mention the Master’s without mention of Tiger Woods. Known for both his skills on the green and media-magnified scandal with now ex-wife Elin Nordegren, Woods is recognized as one of the best golfers in the world. Not far from the golf-rich communities of Jupiter and Juno Beach, FL, Woods built his own golf oasis in the town of Jupiter Island, FL —  an affluent alternative to mainland Jupiter. As one would expect from a golfing superstar, Woods built a private fairway at his Jupiter Island estate. Palm Beach county Realtor Cary Lichtenstein took an exclusive look at Woods’ Jupiter Island real estate creation and said:

“…he has one tee box in the southeast east corner to hit drivers. The entire area just west of the lap pool can be used to hit long, medium and short irons into any of the 4 greens. Each green is guarded by a single trap, except the green in the northwest corner which appears to have 3 pot bunkers…Tiger has enough open space to practice his short game from any angle, any wind condition, which really appears what this practice area is all about.”

Phil Mickelson’s Home (below)
Listed for $7,199,000

Source: PGA Tour

Another world-ranked golfer is 38-time PGA Tour champ, Phil Mickelson. Nicknamed “Lefty” for his left-handed swing, Mickelson hasn’t had as much luck in the real estate realm as he has on the golf course. Mickelson has been trying to unload his Rancho Sante Fe real estate since June 2007; it was last listed in 2008 at $12,256,876 before it dropped to its current price of $7,199,000. Included on Mickelson’s Rancho Sante Fe property is a 5-bedroom main house, two guest homes, hand-carved cantera fireplace, swimming pool, and, of course, a putting green.

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Porcupine Creek (below)
Recently sold: $42.9 million

Source: Business Week

Porcupine Creek is situated on 249 acres, which has its own, private 19-hole golf course — the extra hole is used for playoffs. While the course has been listed by Golf Digest as a top 15 course in California, the Rancho Mirage real estate masterpiece made another name for itself when it became the victim of owner Edra Blixseth’s bankruptcy filing. To satisfy creditors, the estate was listed as one of 2010’s the most expensive listings for $75 million in February 2010, took a $20 million price cut to $55 million, and was finally scooped up by American business mogul, Larry Ellison (pictured), for $42.9 million last month.

7475 Foxglove Ct, Park City, UT (below)
Listed for $8,500,000

Named the best golf course in Utah by Golfer’s Digest in 2005-2006, Glenwild Golf Club is a prestigious par-71 course surrounded by the mountainous landscape of the Beehive State. What better place to enjoy one of Utah’s greatest golf courses than from a 2,700-sq ft wrap-around terrace? Towering over the championship fairway sits a 12,000-sq ft masterpiece offering 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms on an expansive 1.28-acre lot. Both rustic and modern in design, this unique piece of Park City real estate was built for entertaining and features 10 fireplaces, living areas with floor-to ceiling  French doors, and panoramic views of not only Glenwild Golf Club, but additionally of Wasatch Range and Park City Ski areas.

1223 Portola Road, Pebble Beach, CA (below)
Listed for $7,750,000

This home may not be on the fairway but it has its own 18-hole mini-golf course to make up for it. Located a few minutes from Cypress Point Club, which is California’s top golf club and #4 in the country, is this Pebble Beach real estate gem offering a 7,100-sq ft main house, 1,400-sq ft artist’s salon, and separate guest apartment. The private, three-acre Pebble Beach compound also features a merry-go-round, koi ponds, swimming pool, and two wine rooms.

2530 Teton Pines Dr Wilson, WY (below):
Listed for $3,985,000

Noted as “one of the best lots in Teton Pines,” this home is a Wyoming golfer’s dream and Wilson real estate at its finest. Located near the south entrance to Teton Pines, one of the state’s best golf clubs, is this 5,729-sq ft home including 5 bedrooms — each with a private patio — 6.5 bathrooms, custom cabinetry, and, best of all, an 18-hole championship golf course right out the back door.

10433 E Mirabel Club Dr, Scottsdale, AZ (below)
Listed for $2,495,000

Arizona is scattered with top-of-the-line golf courses but one of the best is The Mirabel Club in Scottsdale. Situated on the club’s front line is a luxurious Tuscan-style home with views of the course from both the front and the back of the house, not to mention panoramic city and mountain views. The 5,700-sq ft, 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home just received a $1 million price reduction as well. Home values have fallen 10.7 percent year-over-year in the Scottsdale real estate market.

62-3456 Aloalli Pl, Kamuela, HI (below)
Listed for $4,995,000

Anywhere in Hawaii is easily a paradise but, for a golfer, a home on the Mauna Kea Fairways is perfection. The custom designed 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom home on the Kohola Coast features a covered lanai, open kitchen with island, outdoor dining area, and most importantly, an infinity edge pool that looks straight out to the golf course. This is truly a rare opportunity to own Hawaii real estate on one of the top courses in the state.

2222 209th PL NE, Sammamish, WA (below)
Listed for $1,088,000

Host to the 1998 PGA Championship, 2002 World Golf Championship-NEC Invitational, and the 2010 U.S. Senior Open,  the par-72 course at Sahalee Country Club is continuously ranked as one of the top 100 golf courses in America. Just steps from the fairway is a custom 3-bedroom rambler, situated on a sunny and large level lot with  better-than-broadcast views of two holes (5 and 6 south) on the Sahalee Golf Course. Also featured on this highly desired piece of Sammamish real estate is an over-sized kitchen, family room with views of the golf course, elegant dining room, paneled library with wet bar, entertainment size terrace, and a built-in wine cellar.

50 3rd St. Garden City, NY (below)
Listed for $3,695,000

Founded in 1899, the Garden City Golf Club remains a distinguished golf course, ranking 53rd in the country and 8th in New York state according to Golf Digest’s list of America’s Greatest Golf Courses. Located on Long Island, this newly constructed brick colonial sits right on the course’s edge, offering spectacular views of the fairway from both the back deck and master suite balcony. The 0.72-acre property took a six-figure price cut in October 2010 and is now asking $3,695,000. Nearly 22 percent of homes in the Garden City real estate market have received a price cut in the last 30 days, according to Zillow Real Estate Market Reports.

Read more celebrity real estate news:

> Tiger Woods’ Ex-Wife, Elin Nordegren, Buys Florida Real Estate for $12.2 Million

> Celebrities and Their Rentals

> Homes of Tech Titans

If you’ve dreamed of owning a million-dollar home, the time is now. According to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), high-end homes in the U.S. are now listed for 27 percent less than their prices at the peak of the market in June 2006. That translates into hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings — and the possibility of buying a million-dollar home for, say, $500,000.

Los Angeles real estate agent Gary Gold of Hilton & Hyland confirms most of the homes in the million-dollar bracket are selling for a third less than the peak market price — and that many of his clients are taking advantage of the discount.

“The [luxury] market is solid; people are buying for sure,” he said. “In general there aren’t too many people that say ‘let’s wait until prices get lower.’ ”

Gold emphasized that not all real estate markets are the same. While average prices are down 30 percent across the U.S., some of the higher-end homes in New York or San Francisco are still selling at strong 2006 prices, and properties elsewhere can be found listed for even lower prices — up to 50 percent off.

“Real estate is very local and every neighborhood is different. Every situation is different. There are certain things that are selling from zero to 50 percent [off] depending on the situation,” said Gold.

Why such a significant drop in prices? According to Gold, these homes may have been overpriced when they sold in 2006, or they are now located in a real estate market that is no longer considered high-end. Below are seven homes currently found on Zillow that were once priced in the million-dollar price bracket when they sold in 2006 but are now listed at prices 48 to 52 percent less. And no — these are not distressed sales (foreclosures or short sales).

10040 E Happy Valley Rd, Unit 19, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (below):
2006 sale price: $4,100,000
Current list price: $1,999,900
Price cut: 51%

Billed as an “entertainer’s dream,” this 8,549 square-foot home on the Scottsdale real estate market is almost entirely one level, except for a large, private suite on the second story. The recently remodeled 6-bedroom, 8-bath home sits in a gated community that includes patrolled security and access to a putting course, 13 tennis courts, fitness center, and clubhouse dining. Scottsdale’s median home value is presently $ 135,200.

1511 Serena Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 (below)
2006 sale price: $3,100,000
Current list price: $ 1,590,000
Price cut: 49%

Golf lovers: Here’s your dream property. This 6,000-sq ft home in the prestigious Grande Dunes neighborhood in Myrtle Beach, SC, overlooks Grand Dunes’ 18-hole course. Inside, the house opens with an arched rotunda, supported by four columns. A custom two-story mahogany library includes wall-to-ceiling shelves and a wrought-iron staircase and book ladder. An elevator leads to the second floor which holds a home theater and private master suite. The midpoint home value in Myrtle Beach is $111,500, so this home is still a pricey piece of Myrtle Beach real estate.

11 Merrall Rd, Dedham, MA 02026 (below)
2006 sale price: $2,350,00
Current list price: $1,250,000
Price cut: 47%

Located on 1.3 acres of greenery at the end of a private cul-de-sac, this 5-bedroom, 5.5-bath home includes a media room, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and the private suite on the second floor can be used as au-pair quarters or a guest suite. Dedham real estate has seen an 8.5 percent year-over-year drop in values where the ZHVI is now $314,400.

4200 Monteverde Dr., Lincoln, CA 95648 (below)
2006 sale price: $1,673,500
Current list price: $759,999
Price cut: 55%

Interested in doing more than grilling outdoors? This home, which is located in Lincoln, CA — about a 30-minute drive from Sacramento — includes an outdoor kitchen complete with mini-fridge and sink. The 6-bedroom, 5.5-bath house also has mosaic tiled floors, theater room and heated pool and pool house. Current Lincoln, CA home values are presently $256,900 — well below this listing among Lincoln real estate.

1105 Conure Ct. Oceanside, CA 92057 (below):
2006 sale price: $1,499,000
Current list price: $759,000
Price cut: 49%

This Oceanside, CA home was a new construction when it sold for nearly $1.5 million in 2006. The ranch-style home contains a large front courtyard, cabana, and “guest casita.” The kitchen includes double ovens, granite countertops and a wine fridge. The Oceanside, CA real estate market, and most of the other areas north of San Diego, have retained a lot of their value, hitting a market midpoint value of $310,800.

23032 Erwin St. Woodlawn Hills, CA 91367 (below):
2006 sale price: $1,380,000
Current list price: $669,960
Price cut: 55%

There’s truth to saying “location, location, location” and this 1950s Los Angeles ranch-style home proves it. Once sold at $1.3 million, this home is in the high-end West Hills, CA real estate market where the median home value is $490,800. While the 1,797 square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bath home includes a pool and spa on over a half-acre, the listing notes that the home needs some “cosmetic updating.”

12212 NW 72nd St Parkland, FL 33076 (below):
2006 sale price: $1,360,000
Current list price: $649,900
Price cut: 52%

This corner-lot home was a year old when it sold for over a million. A few years later, the 6-bedroom, 5-bath home is still in great condition, featuring a three-car garage, large pool, and detailed porcelain tile floors throughout. The home sits well in the Parkland, FL real estate market, where the city’s median home value is $435,500.

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages rose this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.71 percent, up from 4.66 percent at this same time last week.

After falling to 4.63 percent last Wednesday, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate steadily increased for the majority of the week, peaking at 4.72 percent early Tuesday morning before falling to the current rate.

Additionally, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate on Tuesday morning was 3.94 percent and for 5/1 ARMs, the rate was 3.25 percent.

What are the rates right now? Check Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for up-to-the-minute mortgage rates for your state.