Family living in Festus, Mo., cave house puts home up on eBay

ST. LOUIS — In a twist to the housing crisis, a family that has been living in a home built inside a cave in suburban St. Louis has put it up for sale on eBay.

Bidding starts at $300,000.

Curt and Deborah Sleeper of Festus bought about 3 acres and a cave in Festus in 2004, after they spotted it on the Internet site.

The Sleeper family built a three-bedroom home inside the one-time mining cave. A large balloon payment is coming due, and the Sleepers are trying to secure private financing. If they are able to, they may not sell. They're not accepting financial donations.

Their youngest child, Theodore Wesley, was just born at their home over the weekend, so while Sleeper agreed to a phone interview, he wasn't able to show The Associated Press around the property Monday.

Curt and Deborah Sleeper with Son Perry, 12, left, and daughter Kian, 15, far right, are seen in the kitchen area of their three-bedroom home that is built inside a one-time mining cave in Festus, Mo., in suburban St. Louis, Friday Feb. 13, 2009. The Sleeper's bought about 3 acres of property and a cave in Festus in 2004, after they spotted it on the Internet site. Now they are putting it it up for sale on eBay. Bidding starts at $300,000. (AP Photo/Suburban Journals of Jefferson County/ Andrew Jansen) ** ST. LOUIS OUT, NO SALES, MAGAZINES OUT **