Those "soil conditions" = construction debris of various sorts (bricks, lumber scraps, roof shingles, concrete, foam plates and disposable coffee cups, etc) at very shallow depth.

I know a guy that keeps one unloaded on him.

Today, I got an email from someone saying that he needs help with a wholesale deal because he needs to unload a house.

The seller took >$50,000 hit just to unload it after 6-7 years of torment???

They generally have lists of properties that they are trying to unload for a small profit.If you're looking for move-in ready property then you want to find someone with MLS access; usually a real estate agent.Otherwise, use the search box at the top of the page.

Just follow lumber prices..  

HOwever it does boil down to industry and jobs.. you got them you have a nice vibrant community the Mill be it steel lumber textiles closes down and now you have out flow and dead and dying real estate.I mean there is a reason that many of the landlords on this site can buy rentals for under 30k in many many parts of the central US and rust belt.. comes down to supply and demand there is more supply than demand..  

The owner was done with all the costs of ownership and just wanted to unload it before spending anymore.

I would think I could unload it there pretty easily too.I also have considered doing seller financing, getting a good size downpayment and holding the note. 

  -  Materials for a 2400 square foot house would eat your entire budget (especially if you're buying things like sheetrock, siding, pipe, wire and lumber at Home Depot)  :-)-  Let's say you were allowed to do the work yourself, and you could get below-cost materials, how long would it take you to sheetrock a 2400 sf house yourself?