Most of us have watched HGTV shows where a couple has a certain budget for buying a house. They look at three houses that fit within that budget and choose the one they like best. While programs like this are considered reality TV, the budget that the buyers have is often not realistic. Sometimes they say they have $200,000 to buy a house plus another $100,000 for renovations, when in reality the producers are picking up part of the rehab bill. Or, the buyers on TV have millions to spend on a home on the West Coast — which is just not possible for the average viewer. Not only that, it’s a much different housing market here in the Midwest, where a modest budget can go much further. 

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