Show of Hands… Would You Buy a Haunted House?
Strangely enough the subject of haunted houses comes up frequently in Real Estate continuing ed classes. Personally, though I’ve never encountered one (at lease not that I know of), I don’t think selling a haunted house would be any more dubious than selling a house with a pool – either you’re ok with it or you’re not. And a recent survey shows home buyers nationwide are leaning in the same direction.
Let us all know what you think; feel free to leave your comments below.
- Would you consider buying a house that was rumored to be haunted?
- Would it make any difference if it was a historic or famous home?
- Do you think a label of ‘haunted’ would be good or bad for your resale value?
Realistically the fact that a house may be haunted, puts it in the ‘stigmatized’ category right alongside criminal activity and suicide. Whether or not a home seller must disclose these stigmas varies state to state, sometimes in opposition to federal law. But as explained in the piece below from a realtor.com survey, it may not matter either way.
Home Haunted? No Problem, New Survey Shows
By Zoe Eisenberg Editor’s Note: This was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin’ now at blog.rismedia.com
Would you ever live in a haunted home? A new survey from realtor.com® shows most folks won’t shy away from a spooky space—so long as the price is right.
In September, realtor.com surveyed more than 1,000 online respondents. The verdict? Thirty-three percent were open to living in a haunted house, 25 percent might be, and 42 percent are not open to the idea.
So what factors impacted these results? Let’s explore:
- Forty percent of respondents indicated that they need a price reduction in order to choose a haunted home over a non-haunted home;
- 35 percent require a better neighborhood;
- 32 percent need larger square footage; and
- 29 percent would do so if more bedrooms are involved.
Who minds a few spooky spirits if there’s a third bedroom, amiright? From the survey, 47 percent of participants indicate they would live in a home where someone died, 27 percent said they might, and 26 percent said they would not.
The survey also showed certain paranormal activities are preferred over others. Forty-eight percent of those surveyed didn’t mind a few cold or hot spots in their home, whereas 45 percent could get down with unexplainable noises, and 39 percent are willing to tolerate strange, freaky feelings in certain rooms. Thirty-five percent of folks could deal with shifting shadows, but only 20 percent were alright with levitating objects or the sensation of being touched.
Of those surveyed, 28 percent believed they already have lived in a haunted house, with 14 percent unsure and 58 percent quite sure they’ve never been haunted.
What do you think? Would you be willing to room with a ghoul for more square footage, a lower price tag or a finished basement?
For more information, please visit www.realtor.com. Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at zoe@rismedia.com. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.
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eMail: golfarizona@cox.net
Bill Salvatore / Arizona Elite Properties
Residential Sales, Marketing, and Property Management
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