Someone, at some point, had hand excavated all the soil out from underneath the house to a depth of about 5'.

@Leslie Crosten that attitude will get you far in life, heres a little education for ya, diffrent areas have diffrent soil conditions, diffrent moisture conditions, etc so many variables, when you want a bunch of people on a forum to give u advise, its beat to give the most detailed info, location, age structure type, interior exterior wall, structural wall partition wall etc.

I’ve had hot water leaks (you could feel the concrete was actually hotter.) that were caused by interactions with our water/soil/etc. this means if you fix one spot the other 99% is just as bad, you do the whole thing in wall instead of under slab. ($3500-$5500 over the last few years each time.)

What kind of soil/grade?

Sandy S Harris - I agree about MLS.

Also where utilities are located and any easements needed to tap in for commercial applications.The traffic count on that side of the road and any cross streets will play a role as well.The 2 acres her land sits on might not be as valuable as the Kmart and Target side or it might be more valuable to the right corporate tenant.They have varying degrees of criteria and like different things for different reasons.The more elevations and dips the property has the more it will cost to grade it.Going vertical is mostly the same cost but the grading and other issues to get there is where costs can get expensive.Demoing a house is very cheap and not that much of a concern for a developer cost wise.What does concern them is the city and county architectural requirements to build there,traffic lights,road ways,required retaining walls do to slope issues,soil composition with drainage issues and or rock formations,rivers and streams with endangered species,historical sites or houses,properties next to funeral homes or graveyards,etc.Those types of things along with of course demographics are of a big concern to a developer.If the 2 acres is on the corner or next to it where a pass through from the corner property once built out can be obtained you have good value.The further it gets away from the corner the more it limits who wants to be there and what price will be paid for it.

Thanks Sandy.

I think you just like messing with me...LOLOnly down side is that when someone posts a new Off Topic thread, about Sandy, most won't see it, unless that check for posts.

Well I couldn't reach my title company today as they are still out of commission due to Hurrican Sandy (no power in their part of town).

My insurance company and tree companies I called gave me advice that I am not responsible for the leaning tree located in my property fell on the other property tree due to Hurricane Sandy.