and once the bank took it over after buying it back at sheriffs auction, someone came and secured the house and made sure every last window was tightly shut and sealed and this was late spring, so the house sat all sealed up through the summer and a teeny tiny bit of mold popped up in the master bath because those casement windows were rather beaten up and didn't seal 100%, a just a tiny amount of moisture got inside and made the tiny bit of mold and the REO agent who was listing the house mentioned it in the listing, but he put something like "NOTE-mold issue is master bathroom!!"

I would however pour in some waterproofing sealant on the floor to prevent upwelling of moisture. 

What products/methods have people used to help "soak up" dampness and moisture in a basement?

There is no moisture now in the basement I just don't nail trough the floor concrete.  

I figured the moisture was a good part of the reason for the roaches.

I tend to do my own work (although jacking up and putting a foundation under, in order to raise the ceiling is beyond me) and I'm not sure I could bring this in for $50KI'm guessing you have building codes so plan on re-wiring the whole house to bring to code.Floor uneven and warped is MOISTURE, have to find it and stop it.Don't know the size of the windows but a few hundred per is about right.Carpet a few thousand.Sheetrock repair a few hundredKitchen cabinets and appliances, minimum of about $5K for CUT RATE stuff.Counter tops, $300-$3KInsulate and sheetrock basement, a few thousand.Knock out a few walls etc in the upstairs, about $5K+, moving walls is not as simple as "moving walls".Bedroom doors, $100/each, minimumLandscape and exterior paint, a few thousand."

Get it permitted and done right.Also, you're doing something that throws a lot of moisture into the air, vent it incorrectly and you could have a serious moisture and mold problem down the road.Get someone that really knows their stuff, this is NOT amateur hour.all cash

I'd start with a few:Droopy ceiling fan blades - Excessive moisture trapped in ceiling and attic, possible mold spread inside, plumbing problem, roof leak, soggy studs, possible damage to electrical wiring.Cracks on the ceiling - Possible foundation problem, roof leak, or storm and hail damage to roof.Soft spot or dip on the floor on 2nd level - Workmanship on flooring cover, water damage to wood underneath, renovations done from down stairs ceiling created damage.House extension not built on slab or same foundation as the house - Difference in foundation and level.

You can do a moisture test on it if you are worried about it.

I've seen a few recommendations for framing the walls and sheet rocking but I am afraid there might be too much moisture build up with our extreme hot/cold Texas weather.