Haunted Real Estate

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Oct. 22, 2013 – Realtor.com – The National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) consumer-facing website operated by Move Inc. – released the results of its Haunted Housing Report that explored consumer sentiments about their perceptions of “haunted” real estate.

“Survey data reveals that while the majority of consumers are open to purchasing a haunted home, many buyers conduct their own research on a home’s history to be aware of any weird incidences,” says Alison Schwartz, VP of corporate communications for Move. “Data also finds that while some respondents are willing to purchase a haunted home at a discounted price, many say levitating objects, ghost sightings and seeing objects move from one place to another would deter them from purchasing a home.”

Attitudes
• 26 percent of survey respondents would consider purchasing a haunted house
• 36 percent might consider a haunted house
• 38 percent would not consider a haunted house

Experiences
• 51 percent of respondents heard about someone else’s haunted home experience
• 35 percent of respondents lived in a home they suspected to be haunted
• 25 percent have researched a home’s history to find out any eerie past incidents

Popular haunted house warning signs
• 61 percent: a cemetery on the property
• 50 percent: homes over 100 years old
• 45 percent: quick turnover of ownership
• 45 percent: an unexplainable low price on the home
• 43 percent: homes in close proximity to a battlefield

Expectations
Many respondents that would consider a haunted home indicated that they expected a discounted price:
• 12 percent would pay full market value or over
• 34 percent would purchase if discounted 1 to 30 percent
• 22 percent would purchase if discounted 31 to 50 percent
• 19 percent would want a discount of 51 percent or more

Deal breakers
Even survey respondents willing to buy a haunted house had reservations, and certain events would make them reconsider:
• 75 percent would be scared off by levitating objects
• 63 percent objects that moved from where they were placed
• 63 percent by ghost sightings
• 61 percent by supernatural sensations
• 61 percent by flickering lights/appliances
• 60 percent by strange noises (footsteps, doors slamming)
• 34 percent by warm or cold spots

Source: Florida Association of Realtors