$400K in Grand Rapids… and $400K Around the World: A Quick Reality Check

If you’re house hunting in Greater Grand Rapids, you already know the number that keeps coming up: about $400,000. It’s roughly where the average sale price has been hovering, and it’s a price point that a lot of buyers and sellers pay attention to.

So I decided to do something different.

Instead of only talking about what $400K buys here (which I do all day, every day), I made a short video that zooms out and asks a simple question:

What else can $400K buy around the rest of the world?

This isn’t meant to be a “Grand Rapids vs. the world” debate, and it’s definitely not a complaint post. It’s just perspective—and honestly, it’s kind of fun.

Below are the three properties featured in the video: one in the U.S., one in Africa, and one in Asia. All roughly the same price point. Completely different lifestyles.

Stop 1: New Mexico — The Off-Grid Earthship (USA)

For around $400K, you can find something in Northern New Mexico that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie: an Earthship.

If you’ve never heard of an Earthship, the short version is: self-sufficient, off-grid living designed for the desert. Think passive design, alternative materials, and a layout that’s built to work with the environment instead of fighting it.

The version I found sits on roughly 20 acres, and it’s the kind of property that makes you realize “quiet” can be a real amenity. It’s not a “walk to coffee” lifestyle—unless you count walking to your own kitchen and making coffee while staring at the desert.

The vibe: minimal neighbors, big skies, and the feeling that you could disappear for a weekend and nobody could reach you (in a good way).

Stop 2: Uganda — Nile Riverfront Resort Setup (Africa)

Next up: Uganda, on the banks of the Nile.

This one is wild—in the best way—because it’s not just a home. It’s basically a small hospitality setup on about 3.5 acres of freehold land, featuring multiple buildings including grass-thatched cottages, lodge rooms, and a main house.

If you’re thinking, “Wait… for $400K?” Yes. That’s exactly why it made the list.

And because every single person asks the same question the moment they hear “Nile River,” let’s address it:

Are there crocodiles there? Yes. Moving on.

The vibe: business plan meets adventure documentary.

Stop 3: Bali — Jungle-View Villa Near Ubud (Asia)

Then we go to Bali, near Ubud—where $400K can land you a modern villa concept with jungle and river views, a private pool, and that “indoor/outdoor living” feel that seems like it was invented specifically for slow mornings.

This one hits differently because it’s the kind of property where the lifestyle is the selling feature. It’s not about a three-car garage or the age of the roof. It’s about the view, the air, the setting—and the fact that you’ll suddenly start saying things like, “I’m going to take a meeting after my swim.”

The vibe: your to-do list becomes a to-don’t list.

So What’s the Point?

Real estate is local. Always has been. The way people live in Greater Grand Rapids—schools, commutes, neighborhoods, seasons, community—those things are hard to compare to anywhere else.

But seeing the same price point through a global lens does two useful things:

1. It reminds you how much “value” depends on location and lifestyle.

2. It makes the process a little less stressful, because sometimes you need a reminder that house hunting isn’t just spreadsheets and interest rates—it’s imagining how you want to live.

And yes, it also makes you realize that $400K can mean:

• Off-grid desert independence

• A literal Nile River setup (with crocodiles)

• A jungle-view villa with a pool

…or a really solid home right here in West Michigan, in a community you actually want to live in year-round.

Watch the Video + Tell Me Where to Go Next

The video is about 70 seconds, and it’s meant to be a quick mental vacation with a side of real estate perspective.

After you watch, I want your input:

Where should I go next for $400K?Europe? South America? Somewhere totally unexpected? Drop a comment and I’ll build the next episode based on what people vote for.

— Josh McCracken, Greenridge Realty