A cheerful blue cottage on a corner of Wichita Falls.

Built in 1939, this compact two-bedroom sits on a nearly 7,000-square-foot lot — generous by the neighborhood's measure. The exterior is painted a standout blue that reads well from the street, and the inside has been freshened throughout: newly painted rooms, a brand-new central heating and cooling unit, and hardwood floors that have been refinished back to something close to their original character.

The layout is small and honest, which is part of the appeal. Nothing to undo, nothing waiting to be fixed. It's the kind of house that's easier to move into than most, and the lot leaves room to shape the outdoor space however you like.