It's that spooky time of year again, and while ghouls and ghosts are typically reserved for Halloween night, there's a segment of the population that has haunting experiences year-round. Is this a concern for homebuyers? According to realtor.com®'s new Haunted Real Estate Report, which surveyed 1,067 people across the U.S., haunted homes are not completely off the table, but there are added stipulations.
What's enough to make them forget about the property's sinister reputation? For a third of respondents, all of whom would take a chance on a haunted house, a price reduction (15 percent), or a larger kitchen or better neighborhood (9 percent), could be incentive enough. Meanwhile, 18 percent of surveyed individuals are brave souls, claiming the haunted nature of the home wouldn't impact their purchasing decision.
"In a competitive market, it's harder for prospective buyers to be extremely selective," says Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com. "If a house is commensurately priced, or has desirable features, the fact that it may be haunted seems to matter less. This report shows that, for those looking for a good deal, a lower price, better neighborhood or larger kitchen can balance out a few spooky happenings."
Of course, there are homebuyers who want nothing to do with a haunted home. In fact, 49 percent of respondents said there's no price low enough or kitchen large enough to make the eerie purchase worth it. Of these respondents, baby boomers (61 percent) said they'd never buy a haunted home, compared to their millennial and Gen X counterparts (41 percent).
How many claim to have lived in a haunted house? As many as two in five people, according to the report. Of this group, 32 percent are male while 20 percent are female, and 39 percent are millennials. When is the haunting occurring? Forty-four percent of respondents suspected or were completely aware of the haunting before they moved in, hearing strange noises (54 percent), experiencing strange feelings in certain rooms (45 percent) or noticing erratic pet behavior (34 percent).
Of those selling a property with unexplainable phenomena, 34 percent would willingly reveal the information to the public, while 27 percent would only divulge it if asked. Meanwhile, 22 percent wouldn't say a thing, and 17 percent would give out some but not all details.
For more information, visit www.realtor.com.
Agents, tell us your top spooky moments in real estate—have any of your buyers purchased a haunted home?
Great article, I’ve always loved the haunted home topic. Here in Upstate NY, there are so many historic properties, old churches, stone houses, or the classic Victorian style homes that give that classic haunted feel, from the creaking floor boards, to dungeon like stone basements, it’s always an adventure going through these old vacant style properties.