Death and Real Estate: Selling and Buying Haunted Houses
In certain parts of the country (specifically Pennsylvania, California, Virginia and New Orleans), there a higher percentage of people who claim they live in houses with ghostly residents. In some parts of the country, it’s actually a selling point to claim that your house is “NOT HAUNTED!”
And in states like California, it’s actually required by law to disclose if there’s “others” living in a residence.
Some people though, feel like it’s their duty to disclose. Here’s a brief snippet from Zillow’s blog:
Greg Leeson didn’t want to call his house haunted, so in his listing, he went for a nonchalant tone:
“Slightly haunted. Nothing serious, though,” he wrote.
“When I was writing it, I had been thinking about it, and I went back and forth,” Leeson explained. “The way I worded it — I was trying to keep it light. I have been reading online, and people saying you are supposed to disclose it. I don’t know the laws here, but thought better safe than sorry.”
Turns out Leeson didn’t technically need to disclose a haunting — even a slight one. Pennsylvania real estate law requires sellers to disclose all material defects they are aware of, says real estate agent and former lawyer Frank L. DeFazio of the Center City Team in Philadelphia.
“Knowledge of psychological impairments such as deaths, murders and haunted houses are not required [material] disclosures under Pennsylvania law,” he explained. “How do you disclose a haunting? Even if court says yes it is a material defect, you have to prove it actually exists. How [do you] prove it? Call Ghostbusters?”
Owner Leeson isn’t even entirely sure that his 1901 home is haunted; he says he believes more in a scientific explanation for things. However, he does admit there are some oddities that have occurred in the Dunmore, PA Victorian, currently listed for $144,000.
He described occasionally hearing voices in his daughter’s room when she was an infant.
“It sounded like there was a person in the room with her talking. We’d go in, and she was just sitting there. But she normally cried constantly,” he said. “Doors slam shut, but it’s an old house. It’s not that often. I used to have roommates, and my wife’s friend swears the house is possessed. I have other friends that come over and say it’s the most calming house they’ve been in.”
Even if Leeson isn’t convinced the home is haunted, describing it as so has been good publicity. He decided to list the home as for sale by owner. His plan was to always try listing it formally with an agent if it didn’t sell, but with the amount of interest the home has garnered, he likely won’t need to go that route.
“I’ve gotten a lot of offers,” he said. “I guess any publicity is good publicity. I think it’s helping in the long run. It’s a nice house. If it’s getting it out there and a buyer likes the house, they probably won’t be dissuaded.”
Via Zillow
And then there’s some real estate companies that attempt to capitalize on hauntings:
If you think haunted houses are impossible to sell, then you’re in for the fright of your life.
“There are buyers out there that think it’s cool to own a home that may have ghosts,” real estate agent Cindi Hagley told ABC News’ “20/20.”
Based in California, Hagley runs Past Life Homes, specializing in the selling of so-called “stigmatized properties,” and that includes haunted houses.
“Right now we are in a seller’s market in almost all of northern California,” Hagley said. “You can have a dead body swinging from the chandelier, and I’m still going to have ten offers on the phone.”
Hagley said plenty of houses for sale come with supposed tenants of the supernatural type, who have allegedly lived there for hundreds of years. In some states including California, realtors are required by law to tell buyers if a home purportedly has ghostly inhabitants.
Even after telling potential buyers that the house is haunted, Hagley said many are still interested.
“Some don’t care. Some expect a huge discount,” said Hagley.
A Realtor.com survey found that 62 percent of Americans would consider buying a haunted house, while 35 percent think they’ve lived in a haunted house.
Via ABC NEWS
So, do you live in a haunted house? And, if you could, would you buy a haunted house?
