Craig, I began looking about 3 years ago, and wasn't really "serous" and had actually stopped flying for about 8 years. So I was out of touch with value and the market. I actually passed on a 1975 Aerobat with about 2600TT and 400 SMOH and new paint. It was $40K and the seller ended up accepting $35K. At the time, I thought that was way too high. In retrospect, that was really a lost opportunity for me.
I had it stuck in my head, the "old prices".. I sold my '75 150M in 1998 for $13K. It later made it into AOPA magazine as a "featured plane". OMG what and why did it sell it?
So...lucky me, I found a 150K (1970) at my home airport. It had 4100TT and 600 SMOH... it had new prop, new tires, new battery, new Nav/Com...and the paint and window were in very good shape. NDH at all. I bought it "no haggling" on the spot for $18K.
It is not what I really though of... it has spring steel gear, the shorter tail fin, and the "moat" gas tanks. But it does have the landing light in the wing. So...the long story...I've added ADS-B and fixed window latches, carpet, panel trim..and I am going to install "correct" wheel pants I found to make it "original".
So, keep looking, and you may have to lower your expectations but certainly not your standards for a sound, airworthy airplane. The paint can always be upgraded, radios...and the engine can be O/H. But you cannot economically "fix" a corroded POS. Find a low as time you can.. even if it needs paint.
There is another 1969 on our ramp....4100 TT and 400 SMOH.. has the old green/orange HoJo paint. But it comes with extra patroller doors, a CHILD SEAT, and cabin cover..and it has wheel pants.
