efq
24-11-2007, 10:49 AM
An American town has been sold on auction website eBay for nearly £1.5m, it has been revealed.
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1143942.jpg Quiet day in Texas
Albert, Texas, only has one house but is also home to a dance hall, tavern and a schoolhouse - reportedly attended by former President Lyndon Johnson in 1920.
It was sold to an Italian, whose identity has not been revealed.
Bobby Cave, 47, of real estate company Urbanspace Realtors, used eBay to sell the 13-acre historic town three-and-a-half years after he bought it.
"I bought it with the intention of creating a little family camping venue where people could come out and drink and enjoy local live music," Mr Cave said.
He said it was supposed to be a 10-year project, but had been completed much earlier than expected.
Albert, which is 70 miles from the state capital Austin, has a population of just himself and a groundsman at weekends, he said.
A total of 58 different bidders placed more than 120 bids since the item was listed on eBay last month.
Its listing described the area as "known for its towering oaks, wildflowers, German heritage and laid-back attitude".
An eBay spokesman said: "You can buy pretty much anything on eBay, but this is certainly one of the more unusual listings we have had on the site.
"For someone, this could be the ultimate Christmas present and will also make a fantastic investment purchase for buyers too."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1294159,00.html
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1143942.jpg Quiet day in Texas
Albert, Texas, only has one house but is also home to a dance hall, tavern and a schoolhouse - reportedly attended by former President Lyndon Johnson in 1920.
It was sold to an Italian, whose identity has not been revealed.
Bobby Cave, 47, of real estate company Urbanspace Realtors, used eBay to sell the 13-acre historic town three-and-a-half years after he bought it.
"I bought it with the intention of creating a little family camping venue where people could come out and drink and enjoy local live music," Mr Cave said.
He said it was supposed to be a 10-year project, but had been completed much earlier than expected.
Albert, which is 70 miles from the state capital Austin, has a population of just himself and a groundsman at weekends, he said.
A total of 58 different bidders placed more than 120 bids since the item was listed on eBay last month.
Its listing described the area as "known for its towering oaks, wildflowers, German heritage and laid-back attitude".
An eBay spokesman said: "You can buy pretty much anything on eBay, but this is certainly one of the more unusual listings we have had on the site.
"For someone, this could be the ultimate Christmas present and will also make a fantastic investment purchase for buyers too."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1294159,00.html