More than half of Americans would buy a haunted house to save money even though they’d be terrified to live in one.
Many home shoppers say they would consider buying a haunted home in order to save money (71%), but a shocking 72% would feel uncomfortable living in one, according to new research from Real Estate Witch and Zillowtastrophes.
Considering the average household earns $40,0000 less than they need to buy the median-priced U.S. home, it makes sense that prospective buyers would force themselves to endure a ghost-infested home in order to have one.
Americans are already accustomed to making sacrifices on the road to homeownership. Giving up alcohol or vacations are the most common options, but others have said they’d forgo their pet, seeing family, or their relationship for an entire year in order to save.
Compared to these, a few bumps in the night may feel like child’s play.
Buyers’ biggest fears are actually more reality-based. Survey respondents said they are more afraid of home repair problems, such as mold (60%), termites (57%), or a leaking roof (54%).
Most Americans who have bought a haunted house didn’t know what they were getting when they bought it. That’s unsurprising, given that only 31% would disclose paranormal activity, knowing it would scare off many potential buyers.
But of those who bought a haunted home on purpose, 40% said they did so because it was the cheapest option.
For some buyers, hauntings are a selling point, however. Last year, the Rhode Island house that inspired the movie “The Conjuring” sold for $1.525 million.
“Embracing a home’s haunted history may be a scary good seller strategy in the race to go viral,” said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, told the New York Times. “Unique homes captured the imagination of Zillow surfers during the pandemic — the more unusual a listing, the more page views it can generate.”