Strange bedfellows: Ghosts and bargains

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Published Date 10/30/2025

So you've found your dream home, having toured every room and fallen in love with the layout. What you’ve heard, however, is that it’s supposedly haunted.

Most people would flee before long before repeating "Beetlejuice" three times. Believe it or not, however, others don’t make like a tree and leave. According to a fascinating survey by Clever's Real Estate Witch, 52% of Americans would actually consider buying a haunted house. And 72% say they'd absolutely do it if the price was right.

That's a lot of people willing to share their space with the paranormal. Realtor.com’s Anna Baluch found that disclosing a haunted reputation accompanying a property doesn't necessarily mean it can’t sell. Neighbors often whisper about hauntings when really it's just a neglected house with good bones waiting for the right buyer. In fact, says Baluch, fearless buyers could score fabulous bargains. Many so-called haunted homes are simply abandoned properties or fixer-uppers needing some tender loving care.

Of course, some homes earn their spooky reputations by way of genuinely disturbing histories—think the Manson murder house in Los Feliz, CA. Or the "In Cold Blood" house in Holcomb, Kansas. Realtors who represent sellers of homes like this acknowledge that everyone has different comfort levels, and that if tragic events have the capacity to weigh heavily on you or your family, the savings you reap by buying such a home might not be worth it. Plus, some properties never truly shake their dark reputations, no matter how many renovations you or past occupants have poured into them, which could hurt resale value.

Here's something most buyers don't know: Most states don't require sellers to disclose hauntings, largely because ghosts can't be scientifically proven. While you can test for radon or mold, there is no widely accepted “ghost test.” Only four states—New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Minnesota—even mention paranormal activity in their disclosure laws, and how it’s described in each state varies. New York follows the "Ghostbusters ruling," requiring disclosure if a house is publicly advertised as haunted. New Jersey and Massachusetts require “listing honesty” only if buyers ask directly. And Minnesota follows a "buyer beware" approach.

If you're seriously considering a supposedly haunted home, pay rapt attention to how you feel during tours and inspections. Watch for negative energy, heaviness, or dread. Do your research before making an offer, especially for homes more than 100 years old, where deaths or wakes are more likely to have occurred inside the home.

Baluch points to DiedInHouse.com, which reveals (for a small fee) whether it was reported that anyone died in the property. Invest in standard inspections, but don’t leave out the scary ones — like those focused on issues like mold, termites, and asbestos—and discover exactly how many bumps in the night might await you.

Realtor, TBWS

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Jeff Beck - NMLS ID: 19488. To verify licensing, visit NMLS Consumer Access (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). 

Jeff Beck

Loan Expert

NMLS: 19488

American Home Lending USA

240 S Buchanan St, Edwardsville IL 62025

Company NMLS: 2239

Office: 618-310-0091

Cell: 618-806-2281

Email: jbeck@ahlusa1.com

Web: https://www.americanhomelendingusa.com/