Would You Buy a Haunted Home?

Did you know about 33% of home buyers would actually consider purchasing a haunted home? 15% would pay full market value and 2% would even be willing to pay more!

I admit I’m probably more with the 35% who are entirely against the idea of sharing my home with a supernatural entity. In honor of Halloween, I thought I’d share some interesting results from a poll by Realtor.com. 

Only 29% of surveyed house-hunters said they would expect a discount of at least 20% for stigmatized property. I guess I can see their point— it’s hard to collect rent from a ghost!

Apparently dishes flying off shelves and hovering apparitions are only a little bit of a turn off. With only 62% of folks saying warm or cold spots in a house, possibly indicating a supernatural hot spot, are a deal-breaker, that means 38% of folks are okay with it. Still, I’d have to recommend my sellers ask their ghostly house guests to behave during showings.

Strange noises, footsteps, levitating objects, and flickering lights/appliances are considered deterrents, but not for everybody. Surprisingly, 41% of buyers are okay with ghosts sightings. Strange sensations and objects being moved from where they were placed are also okay with over 40% of buyers.

So I guess these statistics mean trying to sell a haunted house isn’t impossible. I think I’d recommend saving the marketing of these “special, bonus features” around Halloween, though. 

Below, you can see how the numbers break down. For any of your real estate questions, please contact me at John@PetersenPartners.com. But if there’s somethin’ strange in your neighborhood or an invisible man sleepin' in your bed, I think you better call Ghostbusters first.

What rumored spooky happenings would NOT stop you from purchasing a home (assuming the home is otherwise a good fit) (Select all that apply)?

• 62% - Warm or cold spots
• 48% - Strange noises (footsteps, doors slamming)
• 44% - Objects being moved from where they were placed
• 45% - Flickering lights/appliances
• 43% - Strange sensations
• 41% - Ghost sightings
• 36% - Levitating objects
• 35% - Strange voices
• 24% - All of the above would stop me from purchasing a home

How much would a “haunted” home have to be discounted (from its market value) for you to decide to purchase it?

• 15% - 0% I would pay full market value of the home
• 12% - 1-10% less than market value
• 17% - 11-20% less than market value
• 18% - 21-30% less than market value
• 19% - 31-50% less than market value
• 17% - 51%+ less than market value
• 2% - I would pay more than market value for a “haunted” home