American House Sells For $1.75

A woman has bought an abandoned house in Saginaw, Michigan with a bid of just $US1.75.

Joanne Smith, who lives over 200 miles away in Chicago, was the top bidder for the house in an eBay auction, reports The Saginaw News. Her bid was one of eight for the house.

“I am going to try and sell it,” she said. “I don’t have any plans to move to Saginaw.”

Mrs Smith said she hasn’t seen the property or visited Saginaw, which like many towns in America’s rust belt has been hard-hit by economic troubles. Saginaw was once a thriving manufacturing town but in recent years it has suffered from population decline and job losses. In 2000 the city had a total population of almost 62,000 but the population has fallen to about 55,000 now.

The decline of the city and rising unemployment have resulted in increasing social problems. Crime has become a major concern for the people of the city, accelerating the rate at which the town’s population is falling.

Saginaw’s main claim to fame is a fleeting mention in “America” sung by Simon and Garfunkel: “It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw, I’ve gone to look for America.

Mrs Smith will have to pay about $US850 in back taxes and garden clean-up costs for the property before she puts it on the market and tries to make a profit.