Haunted Houses Hot on Real Estate Market

Hot on the Real Estate Market: Buyers Dying to Live in Haunted Houses

If you think haunted houses are impossible to sell, then you’re in for the fright of your life. "There are buyers out there that think it’s cool to own a home that may have ghosts,” real estate agent Cindi Hagley told ABC’s 20/20.

Based in California, Hagley runs Past Life Homes, specializing in the selling of so-called “stigmatized properties,” and that includes haunted houses. “Right now we are in a seller’s market in almost all of northern California,” Hagley said. “You can have a dead body swinging from the chandelier, and I’m still going to have 10 offers on the phone.” Hagley said plenty of houses for sale come with supposed tenants of the supernatural type, who have allegedly lived there for hundreds of years. In some states, including California, realtors are required by law to tell buyers if a home purportedly has ghostly inhabitants. Even after telling potential buyers that the house is haunted, Hagley said many are still interested. “Some don’t care. Some expect a huge discount,” he said.

A Realtor survey found that 62 percent of Americans would consider buying a haunted house, while 35 percent think they’ve lived in a haunted house. John Gochá told 20/20 that his home is haunted. “I know it’s haunted. I see ghosts here on a pretty much weekly basis.” His Los Angeles house, which was featured in the Emmy-winning TV show, American Horror Story, is currently for sale. “Every time I go by the laundry room with the washing machine on I hear conversations, people having conversations clear as day,” said Gochá.

While Gochá finds the ghosts in his home friendly, Hagley said she has a team of paranormal investigators for when a house she is selling is haunted. “It’s not like on TV where you see, you know, these alleged Ghostbusters calling these ghosts out,” Hagley said. “We’re gentle in our approach.” When the home buyers want the spirits to leave, Hagley has her medium, Mark Christopher Nelson, ask the paranormal presence to go elsewhere. “We’re not evicting them. We’re helping them,” said Hagley. While most people shy away from buying haunted homes, Hagley said there are those who are excited about the prospect. “I usually call a security guard to protect me because they’re usually nuts,” said Hagley.

Source: Alison Lynn and Chris Connelly, ABC News, July 9, 2014.