I've been looking for a "second" home down south for several years now (in anticipation of a winter retirement haven) and have found a few things:
East and West coast properties are fairly expensive.
Home in the heartland tend to be much less expensive than the above. This would include areas such as Texas (Alpine, Big Bend area is one place I looked), New Mexico (southern part of state, not Santa Fe area) and Arizona.
Each state has a different tax structure, so beware of "bargins." Know what you'll pay in property as well as state taxes, just don't go by the cost of the home.
I agree with the person who would rather have a 10 year old home than a newer one. Some really nice homes built in the 1980s that can be had for much less than a fresh built. Just remember, if it's been on the market for a long time, when you go go sell it, it may be on the market for a long time....