**in wv there was 50 acres for 22k. i didnt have the cash at the time. it was all timber. i called a timber company, they valued the land. went to the bank - they gave me a loan predicated upon the timber contract. fixed the house up sold it and made money off the timber too. here in pa, where dilapidated homes are a dime a dozen, there was this dbl home - they wanted 5k each. got both for 7k. not as a tax sale either. the marble mantles in these homes were worth....you ready? 11k to this antique dealer (home was built in 1902) i had a pvt sale in adv with the antique dealer, paid for the house. he got the mantles. and i filled in the fireplaces when we fixed the places up.