THE VICK HOUSE NO MATCH FOR TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES

AP – The house that was the headquarters for Michael Vick's dogfighting operation has once again failed to sell at auction.

Auctioneer Tim Dudley said no qualified bidders showed up for Friday's auction of the five-bedroom house in Surry County. The owner required bidders to bring a $20,000 cashier's check, but none of the seven people who showed up did so.

Developer Wilbur Ray Todd Jr. bought the house for $450,000 shortly after Vick was indicted on federal dogfighting conspiracy charges. At an auction last December, Todd rejected a bid of $747,000, which is the assessed value of the property for tax purposes but less than the $1 million Todd wanted. The house was put on the market but remained unsold.

Former Hokie Vick, the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback, is serving a 23-month sentence in the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan.

Dudley said Todd will work with potential buyers but if the house doesn't sell, another auction may be scheduled in about three months. Todd, who wasn't present for the auction, had set a minimum bid of $590,000 Friday.

After the first unsuccessful auction, Todd cleared about 10 wooded acres to make the property suitable for horses. The house has two master suites and a media room with a wet bar.

Facing financial ruin after his indictment, Vick sold the property to Todd, who spent about $50,000 sprucing it up and repairing damage caused by vandals and looters.

(AP Photos/Steve Helber)