Why Are These California Homes So Cheap?!

Think California is only for millionaires? The middle asking price here is $735,000. So we went where the land is still cheap: the Sierra Nevada, the far north and the high desert. In this video we count down 10 real homes with land in California, from a 1907 log cabin on 33 acres for $325,000, all the way down to a 1957 desert homestead cabin where songs have been written, for just $79,900. Along the way: two off-grid homes on 80 acres of the Lost Coast with a wood-fired hot tub, a fairy-tale container homestead under Mount Shasta, an 1868 gold-rush hotel with 8 bedrooms and its own ghost story, a 1958 desert house turned into a work of art, an off-grid cabin on 40 acres near Kings Canyon, a stone cottage on a creek, a desert cabin about ten miles from the 1992 Landers earthquake, and a log home with a two-story wall of windows that sold for $280,000 in 2015 and is now listed at $120,000. For each one we look at why it hasn't sold yet, what a new owner would pay in property tax, and what matters if you're planning to retire: stairs or one level, and how far the nearest hospital is. Plus: how Prop 13 really works, and the fire insurance catch nobody tells you about. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — A Desert Cabin Where Songs Were Written for $79,900? 0:40 — Cheap Homes With Land in California 0:54 — #10 Nevada City, CA: $325,000 1907 Log Cabin on 33 Acres 3:23 — #9 Honeydew, CA: $325,000 for 2 Homes on 80 Acres of the Lost Coast 6:01 — #8 McCloud, CA: $315,000 Container Homestead Under Mount Shasta 8:22 — #7 Inskip, CA: $288,000 for an 1868 Gold Rush Hotel on 57 Acres 10:44 — #6 Twentynine Palms, CA: $275,000 1958 Desert Art House 13:11 — Prop 13 & California's Fire Insurance Catch 14:33 — #5 Miramonte, CA: $239,000 Off-Grid Cabin on 40 Acres 16:40 — #4 Whitmore, CA: $214,777 Stone Cottage on a Creek 18:49 — #3 Johnson Valley, CA: $139,800 Desert Cabin With Solar 20:59 — #2 Wildwood, CA: $120,000 Log Home With a Wall of Windows 23:28 — #1 Wonder Valley, CA: $79,900 "Rock 'n Roll Cabin" 25:51 — Which One Would You Buy? Next week's state is the one that wins our community poll, so go vote. Subscribe so you don't miss it. ⚠️ Disclaimer: All listings shown were found during our research and were active at the time (October 2026). Prices, availability and status can change quickly, so always verify directly with the listing agent before making any decisions. In California, property tax is reassessed when a home sells (Proposition 13), so the tax figures in this video are estimates of what a NEW owner would pay (about 1.1% of the asking price); the real bill depends on the final price and local assessments, so check with the county assessor. Many California homes in fire-prone areas are hard to insure: get a homeowners insurance quote before making an offer. Off-grid systems, water sources and square footage are as described in the listings; have them inspected. Map imagery: USDA NAIP / USGS. Archive images: Library of Congress and other public-domain sources. This video is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not financial, tax or real estate investment advice. #California #CheapHomes #RealEstate