Not Even Haunted Houses Scare Off Home Buyers in a Competitive 2021 Real Estate Market

Posted by Cary W Porter on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021  1:15pm.

Would you buy a haunted house? According to a recent poll that’s been released by Real Estate Witch, 73% of Americans said that they would at least consider it. The recent poll surveyed a total of 1,000 Americans who were asked 20 questions regarding their paranormal experiences, what they prefer when buying a home, etc…

WHAT’S SCARIER THAN LIVING IN A HAUNTED HOUSE?

Among people who believe in the supernatural, 44% say paranormal activity has increased since the pandemic began — yet more than half of Americans say problems such as mold or foundation issues are still scarier than living in a haunted house.

As Americans plan their Halloween costumes and indulge in scary movie marathons this October, many sense a ghostly chill in the air. 

Today, 76% of Americans believe in the supernatural — up from 70% in 2020 and 44% in 2019, according to our annual surveys. 

This conviction comes from firsthand experience, with 73% of Americans saying they’ve experienced a supernatural event. Among them, 44% say they have experienced more frequent supernatural events since the pandemic began — particularly millennials, who are 3.1x more likely than boomers to report an increase. 

To learn more about Americans’ experiences with haunted real estate and their Halloween plans in 2021, we surveyed 1,000 Americans about their paranormal beliefs, home-buying preferences, and Halloween plans. 

We learned that even as beliefs in the supernatural are becoming more commonplace, just 5% of respondents say ghosts are the scariest aspect of homeownership. Instead, people are more afraid of:

Read on to discover how Americans’ attitudes toward haunted houses have changed in the past year — and how they plan to celebrate Halloween during the continuing pandemic. 

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“Did you hear that?  I feel like I am being watched.  There are things going bump in the night.”

HAUNTED HOUSE STATISTICS

Nearly Half of Americans Believe They’ve Lived in a Haunted House

As 71% of workers with remote-friendly jobs now work from home all or most of the time, Americans spend more time than ever within their houses — where they may be better-positioned to observe supernatural events that would otherwise occur without their knowledge. 

Almost two years into the pandemic, nearly half of our respondents (44%) say they’ve lived in a haunted house — a significant leap from 2020, when just 24% of Americans said they had experienced a haunting. 

An additional 14% say they’re unsure, leaving open the possibility of otherworldly explanations for their experiences. 

Americans are more likely to believe they’ve lived in a haunted house if they already believe in the supernatural (53%) — a group that overlaps with the 48% of millennials who say they’ve shared a home with ghosts. Only about one in five boomers (18%) also believe they’ve lived in a haunted house. 

Of those who reported living in a haunted house, 63% say they were aware of the haunting before moving in — and still chose to live there. 

Evidence of a haunting varied widely among respondents, from odd sightings to creepy sensations: 

Though some of these may have rational explanations, such as a malfunctioning air conditioner or groaning pipes, our respondents are convinced that ghosts are to blame. 

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Homeowners Fear Fires, Floods, and Other Disasters — Yet 5% Have No Basic Safety Precautions in Place

From hidden costs to extreme weather events, many Americans view homeownership as a potentially risky endeavor. 

For our respondents, the scariest aspects of homeownership include: 

Despite widespread fears of fires and disasters, many Americans have shockingly few safety precautions in place. In fact, 5% of respondents have no basic standard safety items in their homes.

Among respondents who lack common home safety items:

There may be a surprising link between a lack of safety items and suspected hauntings. Since 1921, scientists have hypothesized that carbon monoxide poisoning may be the culprit behind some reported hauntings. 

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In a Competitive Housing Market, 73% of Americans Say They’d Purchase a Haunted House 

In 2021’s white-hot housing market, 73% of Americans say they’d be open to purchasing a haunted home — up from just 59% in 2020.  

In fact, 15% of our respondents say they’d prefer to own a haunted house, 3x more than in 2020. 

Millennials are least likely to be deterred by a ghost or two: Nearly one in five (18%) say they’d prefer a haunted house, compared to just 3% of boomers. 

Surprisingly, Americans who believe in the supernatural are also more likely to consider purchasing a haunted house (75% versus 64% of nonbelievers) and more likely to prefer a haunted house (17% versus 8% of nonbelievers). 

Though home buyers may be open to purchasing a haunted house, 52% say they wouldn’t pay full market value. This includes:

Surprisingly, 27% of respondents say they would still be willing to pay above market value for a haunted house, including 11% who would pay more than 50% above market value. Approximately one in five (21%) would pay exactly market value. 

Compared to boomers, millennials are 2.5x more likely to say they’d pay more than 50% above market value for a haunted house and 2.4x more likely to pay 1% to 20% above market value.  

Price aside, 30% of respondents say they’d consider buying a haunted house if it had: 

Millennials are 1.7x more likely to be swayed by a better school district, 1.4x more likely to overlook a haunting in favor of more square footage, and 1.2x more likely to purchase a haunted home in a safer neighborhood. 

Proximity to a Waste Management Facility Tops Home Buyers’ List of Deal Breakers

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Nearly half of Americans would rather purchase a haunted house than one located near a dump or other waste management facility. 

Home buyers’ top deal breakers include homes that are:

Overall, just 6% of respondents say none of these factors would be a deal breaker for when buying a home. 

Additionally, millennials tend to be pickier than older home buyers. They’re 2.5x more likely to reject a home if a serious crime was committed nearby and 1.9x more likely to pass on a home that’s dirty, cluttered, or located within a mile of a busy highway. Millennials are also 1.8x more likely to avoid homes where someone died of natural causes. 

Many Americans Are Reluctant to Move, Even If They Believe Their Home is Haunted

More than 1 in 10 Americans (11%) wouldn’t move immediately if they observed signs of a haunting.

Still, many would find some events too unnerving to bear. Respondents say they’d move immediately if: 

Homeowners who are desperate to quickly exit a haunted property are also wary of scaring off prospective buyers. 

The majority of respondents (62%) say they’d avoid disclosing a haunting to potential buyers if possible, including 10% who would refuse to disclose a haunting even if the law required it. An additional 32% would only tell prospective buyers if the law required it, and 20% would only do so if directly asked.  

Just 38% say they’d warn a prospective buyer about a haunting, regardless of what the law demands.

Despite this widespread reluctance, 73% of respondents believe the government should require sellers to disclose paranormal activities in homes — up from 63% in 2020. 

Among those who believe in the supernatural, 79% agree that paranormal activity should be a required disclosure — a group that overlaps with the 74% millennials who also agree. 

Buying a home should never be a scary experience, and The Cascade Team is here to make sure no part of the process comes back to haunt you.