Homeownership Trivia: 12 Facts to Share

In honor of National Trivia Day, here are a dozen interesting facts about homeownership that may surprise you…or at least they will provide you with some memorable minutiae to use throughout the day.

1. It’s considered bad form to give a knife as a housewarming present. The superstitious believe it will turn the recipient into your enemy.
2. New York homeowners are required to comply with a “Ghostbusters Ruling” when listing their property for sale. This involves disclosing whether any ghosts inhabit or frequently visit the home.
3. Historically, a red door has been a symbol of protection and refuge. In Scotland, however, it signifies that the home’s owner has paid off the mortgage.
4. Only 30 percent of Americans have home security systems. If burglars notice an alarm, 60 percent said they would move on. 
5. The most common street name in the U.S. is “Second.” Oddly, “Third” comes in second place, and “First” is in third place. This just doesn’t seem to add up!
6. 86 percent of recent homebuyers financed their purchase, and the average amount financed was 88 percent.
7. The median size of a new home for the U.S. in 2019 was 2,322 square feet, which is 522 square feet larger than 20 years ago. So much for the downsizing movement!
8. When you first enter your new house, bring bread so those in the home will never know hunger. Also, take along a new broom; Bringing an old broom into a new home is considered an invitation to bad luck.
9. Good news for those who are avoiding touching door handles due to the pandemic: Brass, copper, aluminum, iron, and silver are essentially self-disinfecting materials. It’s called the oligodynamic effect, and as an antimicrobial metal, brass leads the list of sanitizing materials. However, the reaction does take some time.
10. When Americans move, we don’t move very far. The median distance between the homes people purchased in 2019 and those they moved from was 15 miles.
11. The concept of a housewarming party began due to the need to literally warm up the house. Guests brought firewood for the new fireplace.
12. As interest rates on 30-year mortgages have dropped to historic lows, it’s interesting to note that the high was established in October 1981. This is when rates hit an astronomical 18.45 percent.