"So you can really find a nice, brand-new three-bedroom, two-bath house away from the ocean for $300,000."

As recently as two years ago, a striver could buy a decent three-bedroom, two-bath house for under $1 million.

Mrs. Bush paid $11,840 in taxes this year on the two-bedroom, two-bath house with swmming pool.

Last November they bought a well maintained three-bedroom, two-bath house for $188,000 on almost an acre in Georgetown.

A four-bedroom, two-bath house on a lake in a development with tennis courts, gym and miles of private roads suitable for biking.

The average rental runs about $13,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath house, she said.

They bought their four-bedroom, two-bath house for $311,000 in 2002.

A three-bedroom, two-bath new Victorian-style house in a private boating community with water view: $439,000.

"You can get a really nice three-bedroom, two-bath house" on a 55-foot by 100-foot lot for $679,000, she said.

At their $300,000 limit, all they could afford in a good district near Atlanta was a three-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style house.