Americans Would Rather Live with Ghosts Than Political Neighbors

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Haunted houses are scary but not as frightening as politically outspoken neighbors.

Nearly half of Americans (42%) said they’d rather live in a haunted house than next door to outspoken Republicans, according to a new Real Estate Witch poll exploring 1,000 homeowners’ paranormal beliefs and property preferences.

Around 38% said they’d rather live with ghosts than next to outspoken Democrats.

In an election year, ghosts are just a blip on homeowners’ radars.

Although haunted houses are preferable to some other properties, most people who’ve lived with ghosts had a harrowing experience and would never choose to live in a haunted house again.

Rooming With Ghosts

A majority of Americans believe in the paranormal, but many don’t find it particularly disturbing. More than half of Americans (54%) would consider buying a haunted house.

However, most buyers would want a discount on potentially haunted homes. A whopping 82% of buyers said they’d offer below market value on a haunted house. Around 43% said they’d offer at least $50,000 below market value, and 18% said they’d offer $100,000 or more below market value.

This trend is likely due to the shift away from a seller’s market. In a similar 2023 survey, only 62% of buyers said they’d submit a lowball offer on a haunted house. 

Haunted Houses Spook Owners

About 1 in 7 Americans believe they’ve lived in a real haunted house. Of those respondents, 89% didn’t know the house was haunted before moving in. 

Sixty-six percent of homeowners said they realized their home was haunted when they heard strange noises, while 52% felt like they were being touched or watched. About 47% saw strange shadows around their home, and 40% said they saw ghosts. 

Only 1 in 9 homeowners said they knew the home was haunted before moving in and chose to live there anyway.

However, homeowners’ quality of life suffers when living in a haunted house. About 65% said living with ghosts increased their stress, 52% said they lost sleep, 36% said they felt unsafe, and 32% dreaded going home.

Almost two-thirds of those homeowners (63%) said there were no advantages to living in a haunted house, and more than one-fourth (27%) regretted moving in. Among former haunted house occupants, a solid 58% said they wouldn’t buy another home they knew was haunted.

What Is Scarier Than Ghosts?

Ghosts are scary, but home repairs are more frightening — and expensive. Eighty percent of Americans said mold in their home was worse than ghosts. Nearly three in four (74%) said foundation issues were scarier than ghouls, 73% said termites, 73% said asbestos, and 67% said water damage. 

These fears likely stem from Americans  spending an average of $18,000 a year on their home in addition to their mortgage.

Some Americans don’t take ghosts seriously at all. Around 1 in 8 said homes with wallpaper are more concerning than ghosts, while 10% said a home with a lot of carpet is scarier.

Disclosing Haunted Real Estate

Almost 70% of people who’ve lived in a haunted house said they’re harder to sell, and 60% said they sell for less. As a result, only 68% of sellers would willingly disclose that their home is haunted. Of those, 44% would disclose unwelcome tenants only when required by law, while 6% wouldn’t disclose it under any circumstance.

Most Americans want to know if a home is haunted; 65% say the government should require sellers to disclose the presence of ghosts. 

Although there are strict laws about disclosing hazards — such as lead paint, asbestos, or black mold — the rules surrounding paranormal activity are almost nonexistent, leaving disclosure up to individual sellers and their agents. 

Marianne Bornhoft, a veteran real estate agent in Washington state, has sold several homes in Spokane that are rumored to be haunted. 

“A caretaker moved into a home I had listed for sale. Less than a month after settling in, they called me in a bit of a panic, telling me they thought it was haunted,” Bornhoft said. “After doing their own research, they discovered the house had a reputation for unexplained occurrences. They experienced doors mysteriously shutting and faint whispering noises in the night. Shortly after that, they packed up and moved out, and the home sold soon after.”

Bornhoft is inclined toward openness when it comes to the presence of potential ghosts, regardless of what state law requires. 

“While Washington state doesn’t require disclosure of any rumored hauntings, I’m always open to sharing a home’s story, especially if it piques a buyer’s curiosity,” Bornhoft said.

Her reasoning is simple: A ghost isn’t always a dealbreaker. On the contrary, Bornhoft said that, to some buyers, paranormal activity can actually be a selling point. 

“Some buyers are captivated by these ghostly tales,” Bornhoft said. “I’ve had people share vivid descriptions of things they’ve seen or heard — whether it’s an apparition, distant voices, whispers in the walls, or doors shutting on their own. It definitely adds to the mystique.” 

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.