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FESTUS, Mo. — A lot of people are struggling to keep their homes in these tough times. One suburban St. Louis family is trying to keep its cave.

That is, a cave that’s also a home. Curt and Deborah Sleeper of Festus bought 3 acres of property with an old mining cave in Festus in 2004.

But they have a big payment coming due on the property and don’t think they can afford it. If they can’t secure new financing, they have a backup plan: auctioning their cave home through eBay. Bidding starts at $300,000.

The home’s gray timber frame exterior was constructed in the 37-foot-tall opening of the cave. Inside, the walls and ceiling are comprised of the natural cave stone. The home has electric, water and sewer, and a decked-out kitchen.

Curt Sleeper said he would never want to own a traditional house after his time in the cave home. “I’d never live in a box again,” he said.