Ive noticed on all these shows they only go to high end neighborhoods! They should really consider helping people that really need it! Would make a more interesting show! Guess you have to have a half million dollar home!
I'm not sure which shows you're talking about in this thread. Sure, in Selling New York and Selling L.A. they're going to be looking at over the top homes most of us have never even been to, much less own.
On the other side - I've seen them go to ordinary neighborhoods. Your figure of $500,000 homes is high end in some places of the country but average in others. If you're talking about Podunk, Namethestate you can probably get a terrific house for under $100,000 - but if you're in many sections of the country they'd be remodeling a chicken coop for that price. Which, altho and interesting premise, probably wouldn't appeal to a sponsor.
Do what most of us do - look for design ideas and tips that you can incorporate in your own home no matter what the price. Any inteligent design show (yes, I know, they're few and far between on HGTV) will use proper scale, good merchandising, interesting furniture arrangements, great colors, etc. Even if you ARE living in a chicken coop, you can at least figure out a good color to paint the walls and an interesting way to display picture frames.