Realtor.com® Haunted Housing Report: 62 Percent of Respondents Open to Purchasing a Haunted Home

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, realtor.com®, the leader in online real estate, operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), released the results of its Haunted Housing Report, which ran on realtor.com® from Sept. 25 to Oct. 1 and explored consumer sentiments around their perceptions of "haunted" real estate. Survey results from nearly 1,400 respondents reveal consumer thresholds for purchasing haunted houses for saleⁱ, past experiences with spooky homes, popular "warning signs" of a haunted home, expected discounts when buying "perceived" haunted houses for sale and intolerable scary occurrences. 

"Survey data reveals that while the majority of consumers are open to purchasing a haunted home, many buyers conduct their own research on a home's history to be aware of any weird incidences," said Alison Schwartz, VP of corporate communications for Move. "Data also finds that while some respondents are willing to purchase a haunted home at a discounted price, many say levitating objects, ghost sightings and seeing objects move from one place to another would deter them from purchasing a home."

Sentiment regarding a haunted home purchase:

• 26 percent of respondents indicated that they would consider purchasing a haunted house for sale;
• 36 percent shared that they might consider a haunted home purchase;
• 38 percent revealed that they would not consider a haunted home purchase.   

Consumer experiences with haunted real estate:

• 51 percent of respondents heard about someone else's haunted home experience;  
• 35 percent of respondents lived in a home they suspected to be haunted;
• 25 percent have researched a home's history to find out any eerie past incidents.

Most popular "warning signs" a home could be haunted:

• 61 percent of respondents thought a cemetery on the property may be an indication;
• 50 percent shared that homes over 100 years old could be haunted;
• 45 percent thought quick transitions in owners might be a sign;
• 45 percent believe that an unexplainable low price on the home is alarming;    
• 43 percent felt that homes in close proximity to a battlefield may be haunted.

Of the respondents that would consider purchasing a haunted home, many indicated that they expected discounts for haunted real estate:

• 12 percent reported that they would pay full market value or over for a haunted house for sale;
• 34 percent shared that they would purchase a haunted home if it was discounted 1 to 30 percent;
• 22 percent indicated that they would purchase a haunted home if it was discounted 31 to 50 percent;
• 19 percent revealed that they would purchase a haunted home if it was discounted 51 percent or more.

For the respondents that would contemplate purchasing a haunted home, the following spooky occurrences would stop them from buying a home:

• 75 percent would be scared off by levitating objects from purchasing a home;
• 63 percent would be deterred by objects being moved from where they were placed;
• 63 percent would be dissuaded by ghost sightings;
• 61 percent would be discouraged by supernatural sensations;
• 61 percent would be scared off by flickering lights/appliances;
• 60 percent would pass on a home with strange noises (footsteps, doors slamming);
• 34 percent would be deterred by warm or cold spots.

Of "curse", disclosure laws vary state by state, so if buyers have concerns with purchasing homes that might be considered haunted, the buyers must advise the agents representing them and should conduct their own investigation to determine whether they have a friendly ghost or a scary spook, as well as "who they're gonna call..."

Please contact Lexie Puckett at [email protected] for the full breakdown of survey results. 

About realtor.com®
Operated by Move, Inc., (NASDAQ: MOVE), realtor.com® helps connect people with the content, tools and expertise they need to find their perfect home. As the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®,  realtor.com®  empowers consumers to make the smartest decisions when it comes to finding a home by leveraging direct connections with more than 800 MLSs to deliver the most accurate and up-to-date listing information in neighborhoods across the country, and by making timely and meaningful connections between consumers and REALTORS®.  Whether through desktop, mobile, or tablet versions, realtor.com® ^is where home happens.

About Move, Inc.
Move, Inc. (MOVE), the leader in online real estate, operates realtor.com®, the official website of the National Association of REALTORS®; Move.com, a leading destination for new homes and rental listings, moving, home and garden, and home finance; ListHub™, the leading syndicator of real estate listings; Moving.com™; SeniorHousingNet; SocialBios; Doorsteps®, TigerLead®; and TOP PRODUCER®  Systems. Move is based in San Jose, Calif.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management's view of Move's future expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the results of Move, its subsidiaries, divisions and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents Move files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Move's future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Move cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Move expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

ⁱDisclosure laws vary by state.  For more information on disclosure laws in your state, please review your state's department of real estate website. 

SOURCE realtor.com