Cave Dwelling Family Can't Refinance, Selling Home on eBay

by Blue Crush | March 2, 2009 at 02:42 pm

919 views | 61 Recommendations | 20 comments

UPDATE MARCH 8th: I'm happy to report that things are looking up for the Sleeper family - it looks like they'll be getting private financing to keep their family "cave", after all. Here's an excerpt of an email I've received from him:

" ...I am confident that my solution is at hand. So much so; I want to schedule a party. I want to invite everyone that is interested in this story. To accommodate so many, I have enlisted the help of a friend. He is also the owner of a cave that has five million square feet. That is 240 Acres of cave. He also has a 60 Acre Lake in his cave..."

So, If you're interested, and in his neighborhood, log onto his website, at Caveland.ning.com, and check it out.

A Festus, Missouri family has reluctantly listed their cave home on eBay, after facing foreclosure. Curt and Deborah Sleeper are hoping a last minute pitch can help them refinance, or they'll sell to the highest bidder, and start their next adventure. "There's this corn silo out there that's been screaming my name, I'm sure." jokes Sleeper.

They bought the unique, one of a kind home through the auction site in 2003. "It's a dirty mine tunnel. What's the plan?" Curt recalls his friends reactions. "And all those same people now look at the home with, you know... and they can't talk for a while." The family couldn't be more proud.

The family spent four years and about $150,000 in materials constructing the three-story home, adding another 2,000-square-feet of living space. They funded the project using a combination of personal income and Ms. Sleeper’s inheritance, Mr. Sleeper says. Friends in the construction industry helped Mr. Sleeper, a self-employed Web designer and small business consultant, build the structure. Ms. Sleeper, a stay-at-home mother who is working on a degree in creative writing, washed laundry in buckets during construction, and the family lived in a tent inside the cave. The city required six different inspections on the cave, Mr. Sleeper says, and it granted the family an occupancy permit last year.

Their mortgage is almost due and like many, they're unable to refinance. "I don't fit their model," Sleeper, who is self employed, said. "A lot of us don't. That's why nobody's getting loans."

The cave itself is 17,000 square feet. It sits on about three acres and it can all be yours for the right price. The minimum bid, $300,000. "I have phone calls, e-mails. Already my web site was shut down 20 times in the first day," says Sleeper. Still the family hopes it won't come to that. Even the kids have become attached to their home.

"Having to sell the cave, that would kinda suck, because, look at it. It's amazing," says Sleeper's son, Perry.

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Fripouille

at 16:26 on March 2nd, 2009

That is a terribly sad and tragic story Blue Crush. I am very touched by it. All that work to create such a beautiful place to live......and they can't even be sure of living in it.

What a damning indictment of the cruel and heartless times we are living in....

I'd recommend this touchingly simple and salutory example of the ravages of this economic crisis a hundred times if I could.

Curt Sleeper (not verified)

at 06:21 on March 4th, 2009

Thank you all very much. The warmth and compassion that you show on this site is part of the energy my family and I live on. We are close to closing a private loan. We don't want to stop pushing our story but we are confident and looking forward to a happy ending. Then I can get back to work.

Barry I agree with you. I am fortunate that my unique home has given me attention. People like your brother exsist all over the world. On my site : www.Caveland.US I have said over and over that we need to donate to people like your brother and not me.

I will be fine. I have my family. Apparently we also have friends around the world. What a feeling.

Thanks

Curt Sleeper

CSleeper@Caveland.US

Rachel Nixon

at 14:43 on March 2nd, 2009

An extraordinary and sad story.

anarkissed

at 16:53 on March 2nd, 2009

I hope they can get someone to trust them with the mortgage. It's insane that loan companies don't want to do business!!! This family is highly unlikely to default on a loan so there's good sense in refinancing them.

I'd be thrilled with a home like this. There's so much storage space behind the house for pretty much anything you desire and they did such a lovely job of it. Too bad it's the wrong country and so far away from home for me.

Please followup on this tale if anyone learns more.

Barry Artiste

at 19:30 on March 2nd, 2009

The ultimate Enviro Home!

jazzyzazzy

at 17:12 on March 4th, 2009

ALLS DWELL THAT ENDS DWELL CURT. May you be happy and well to enjoy for evermore. There is a saying here in Scotland.!whats for yea wont go by yea .good luck pal.

Paschen

at 14:53 on March 2nd, 2009

An older version exist in Briton of the same house. only a little smaller though.

In this times $300,000.00 is impossible.

Barry Artiste

at 19:30 on March 2nd, 2009

Mah, Brother sleeps in a Van down by the lake and he dont never make the news!

Fripouille

at 19:38 on March 2nd, 2009

Well now, maybe he jus' betta park his van in a cave if he's smart!! :)

Blue Crush

at 20:37 on March 2nd, 2009

I've found more information on STLtoday.com on that, Barry.

"The temperature remains steady at 62 degrees, meaning they don't need heat or air conditioning," & "The cave used to be a roller skating rink, and for a while, it served as a concert venue — Bob Seger and Ted Nugent played there."

I can't imagine anyone giving this up, I hope they get their private financing.

Fripouille

at 20:34 on March 2nd, 2009

Curt and Deborah, if you're reading this post, good luck to you!!!

Barry Artiste

at 09:47 on March 3rd, 2009

It would be a sweet place to hang your hat, thats for sure Blue

Amy Judd

at 14:11 on March 3rd, 2009

This is sad that they have to sell their unique home. Even sadder that no one has bid on the item yet...

jazzyzazzy

at 15:31 on March 3rd, 2009

Awe.............That is such a shame, they must have put their heart and soul into their home. So even if they do have to move on, They will still have their heart and soul.So dont be sad Amy.For at the end of the day it is only bricks and mortar.Nobody can take away their heart soul or spirit.They might be able to move on to something better,who knows but good luck to them anyway.

Fripouille

at 06:28 on March 4th, 2009

I am so pleased to read this Curt, and it's very kind of you to write. Fingers crossed for the loan.

Good luck to you all!!

Barry Artiste

at 17:03 on March 4th, 2009

Hey Curt, I was joking, my Brother certainly lives in a Van, or by a lake! Sorry, I thought many here would have taken it as a old Saturday Night Live joke!

eastvanray

at 17:20 on March 4th, 2009

NO heat? 62 degrees

Blue Crush

at 20:24 on March 4th, 2009

Aww... EastVan, that's just about room temperature where I come from. ; >)

Blue Crush

at 20:26 on March 4th, 2009

We're all crossing our fingers, and knocking wood, and saying a lil prayer!

eastvanray

at 15:47 on March 9th, 2009

I keep my house at a comfortable 70 degrees most of the year. I was going to make a statement about you being from Toronto and how cold it is there but we have 6 inches of snow on the ground here in Vancouver today so I will keep those comments to myself :-)