Housing News

Homebuyers are More Afraid of Bad Neighbors, Repairs, and Rising Costs Than Ghosts

What’s scarier: an unexpected home repair bill or a ghost?

In today’s housing market, many homebuyers are more afraid of horrible neighbors, expensive repairs, and rising property taxes than living with the supernatural.

Buyers are also more scared of rising crime, unexpected costs, natural disasters, and increasing home insurance policy costs than living in a haunted home, according to a report from Clever Real Estate.

To come up with its findings, Clever surveyed 1,000 Americans on Aug. 26. The company connects buyers and sellers with local real estate agents.

In today’s pricey housing market, about 62% of buyers would consider purchasing a haunted home if they scored a lower price. Lower property taxes would sway about 41%, while 40% would buy a haunted house if it was their dream home.

Location also matters. More than half of those surveyed would choose living in a haunted home in their preferred neighborhood over a home without ghosts in a less desirable area.

And about a third see a financial opportunity by offering tours and renting out the property to ghost hunters and fans of the supernatural.

Who’s afraid of things that go bump in the night?

While living with ghosts may save money on housing costs, there is still a price to pay.

More than half of homeowners sharing their property with spirits say they have lost sleep and avoided being in certain rooms over the haunting. Nearly half have elevated stress levels and more than a third dread coming home.

About 40% of homeowners regret purchasing a haunted home, but 30% of those living in one of the paranormal properties can’t afford to move somewhere else. Roughly 59% of these folks would not buy another haunted house.

How do you know if your home is haunted?

Roughly a fifth of people believe they have lived in a haunted home.

And more than a third of homeowners experienced something they can’t explain on their property.

They realized they might have a spirit on the grounds when they heard strange noises, felt like they were being watched or touched, saw strange shadows, saw a ghost, had an eerie feeling in their home, experienced hot or cold spots in the home, or had strange dreams.