I bought a local house in 2004 that suffered a failed furnace in deep winter (with great damage) for $17k. I put another $10k into it for repairs, and rented it.

I started getting postcards around 2012: "I/we want to buy your house." I have a pile of them. None of them offered more than $20k.

The home in question is very near Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. I do a two mile walk through campus every day, schedule permitting.

The house was lost by previous owners who engaged two mortgages on the property to fund their gambling.

I had pandemic tenant problems; they didn't pay during the last six months, and the damage was substantial. I repaired the damage, then sold it on contract for $60k; I'm done with rental property.

I'm still getting calls and postcards.

p.s. I drove by a house, very similar to mine, but with substantial roof damage, that was for sale for many months for $15k. It dropped to $5k near the end of the summer. I walk by it, going downtown, and the current owners seem to have repaired the damage, and are on their porch from time to time.