Inside the Tiny Arkansas Town Where Homes Sell for $400—With a Huge Catch
Pine Bluff, Arkansas sees small home prices; what opportunities lie within?
According to Realtor.com, in Pine Bluff, just 45 miles outside of Little Rock, a home was recently sold for $402.74 at a tax auction.
The city found itself thrust into the spotlight when a documentary titled “The City Left Behind: $400 Abandoned Homes in Pine Bluff” got 1.6 million views in the past three weeks on YouTube.
“There is a surplus of properties—cheap!—that are prime for restoration and redevelopment,” filmmaker Michael Schwarz told Realtor.com®. “But not enough people willing to move to Pine Bluff, or not enough people currently living in Pine Bluff who can afford it.”
But there’s a catch, of course: According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Pine Bluff is the “fastest-shrinking city” in America, losing over 12% of its population in a decade due largely to its lack of jobs and poor-quality schools.
After Schwarz’s documentary went viral, Mayor Shirley Washington responded: “We are dedicated to revitalizing our neighborhoods and ensuring that Pine Bluff remains a safe and thriving place to live. The city has implemented several programs to address the issue of abandoned homes.”
But the city is talking about bringing in new housing developments when there aren’t enough people to fill the houses that are already built, Schwarz notes.
A brief history of Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff used to be one of the most prosperous regions in the Deep South after World War II due to its expansive farmland. It was also the home of two successful paper mills.
As those industries changed, however, the city and its economy began to suffer.
Crime increased as Pine Bluff’s population decreased, and many area homes were abandoned.
“If Pine Bluff works to bring in more job opportunities, it will create a more enticing reason to move to town,” Schwarz says.
Is Pine Bluff poised for a comeback?
Many people believe the town is ready for revitalization.
“With a commitment to economic growth and community development, Pine Bluff is working to create a vibrant future for all its residents,” Washington said in her statement.
Schwarz, who spent two years interviewing Pine Bluff residents for his documentary, says he hopes more people move to the community and renovate the low-priced properties.
And now that millions of new eyes are on the city, that might already be starting to happen.
“I’m seeing a lot of interest in the area,” says real estate agent Marty Reed, of Century 21 United in Pine Bluff. “We are seeing investors coming in to fix up properties from the West, since it’s so much more affordable here.”
