#squatters

Wait. What? Listing Description: Property sold AS-IS. DO NOT BOTHER OCCUPANTS, DO NOT WALK THE PROPERTY.  The property is a great location, this is the only positive. The building has had no maintenance done since 1974.  The roof of the garage has collapsed, the second story sun room has collapsed off the building, the framing is leaning off of the foundation, there is a single gas meter and single electric meter. There is an active water leak from the mainline in the yard the basement and yard have been full of water for... decades? The monthly utlities gas/electric/water are $2000 per month. The 83 year old in the upper unit has life estate and pays no rent for the duration of his lifetime. The lower unit pays $1200 per month. New owner pays for all utilities. The home inspector: "I've been doing inspections for 35 years. This is the worst property I've ever seen. There is nothing to salvage. It is a hazard and there shouldn't be anyone living there. It needs to be torn down."  The appraiser appraised the property for $395k due to the extreme condition (our asking price). No units to be delivered vacant.

The Lamb Will Slaughter The Lion by Margaret Killjoy. Tor.com, 2017. 9780765397362. 125pp.  

Danielle hitchhikes to a ghost town in the middle of nowhere, in Iowa. She hopes to find out more about her friend Clay, who used to live there. (He recently committed suicide.) It's clear something weird is going on there from the moment of her arrival, when she encounters a blood-red, three-antlered deer and a host of undead animals. Danielle is welcomed in by a community of squatters and warned about the "deer," which Clay had a hand in summoning. It's clearly not a safe place for everyone, but Danielle stays to figure out what's going on and, maybe, how to help.