Homeowners Reveal the Frightening Facts About Haunted Houses:
Written by Jaime Dunaway-Seale
ARE HAUNTED HOUSES CHEAPER?
Nearly 2 in 3 home buyers (63%) would only offer below market value for a haunted home, with 1 in 3 (31%) offering at least $50,000 less and 1 in 9 (11%) offering at least $100,000 less.
UFOs sightings. Alien invasions. The zombie apocalypse. Paranormal beings are top of mind for many Americans in 2023.
With these topics dominating the cultural conversation — and the highest levels of government — belief in the supernatural is growing. Three-fourths of Americans (75%) think otherworldly beings exist — a 9% increase from 2022, when 69% said the same.
As Americans increasingly consume paranormal media on their screens at home, it’s no surprise some are convinced they reside with ghosts.
About 29% of Americans believe they’ve lived in a real haunted house — up from 24% in 2022, according to a new study from Real Estate Witch, Zillowtastrophes, and Estate Media, the first personality-driven media company for the real estate business with a diverse network of more than 20 renowned agents, professionals, and creators.
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Few Americans are dying to live in a haunted house, though. Among homeowners who have lived in a bewitched home, 36% regret it, and 60% wouldn’t recommend it to others.
But in this monster of a real estate market, 52% of Americans would risk purchasing a haunted house, especially for a lower price. With high home prices and rising interest rates, ghosts are the least of home buyers’ worries.
Find out what’s scarier than a haunted house.
HAUNTED HOUSE STATISTICS
- About 29% of Americans believe they’ve lived in a real haunted house — up slightly from 24% who said the same in 2022.
- Of those who have lived in a haunted house, 27% knew the house was haunted before they moved in and still chose to live there.
- A staggering 95% of Americans say it’s important to feel safe in their home, but 57% of those who have lived in a haunted house say it scared them, and 43% say their home caused them stress.
- More than 1 in 3 haunted homeowners (36%) regret living in a haunted house, and 55% would not buy another home they knew was haunted.
- More than 2 in 3 Americans (68%) say the government should require sellers to disclose a haunted home, but only 31% of sellers would willingly tell the buyer if their home was bewitched.
- In 2023, 11% of sellers wouldn’t disclose a haunted house even if it was required by law, compared to 8% in 2022.
- More than half of Americans (52%) would consider purchasing a haunted house in 2023 — down from 58% in 2022.
- Although a majority of buyers would purchase a haunted house, 72% would feel uncomfortable doing so.
- 71% of Americans could be convinced to buy a haunted house to save money.
- Nearly 2 in 3 home buyers (62%) would only offer below market value for a haunted home, with 1 in 3 (31%) offering at least $50,000 less and 1 in 9 (11%) offering at least $100,000 less.
- Americans say the most terrifying aspects of homeownership are all financial in nature: unexpected costs (50%), high interest rates (46%), and an inability to pay their mortgage (42%).
- Ghosts are scary, but 93% of Americans are more afraid of home repair problems, such as mold (60%), termites (57%), and a leaky roof (54%).
- Nearly half of Americans (48%) would rather live with ghosts than purchase a home near a nuclear waste facility.
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