Further property madness in the States, a house in Detroit has been sold for a dollar. Of course, it’s not in the nicest neighbourhood.

The house, once dubbed ‘the nicest on the block’ when it sold for £30,000 in November 2006, was foreclosed last summer and stripped away by local thieves.

Scrappers tore out the copper plumbing, the boiler and light fixtures, taking everything of value, including the kitchen sink.

The company hired to manage the home and sell it, the Bearing Group, boarded it up only to find the boards stolen and used to board up another abandoned home nearby.