Would You Buy a Haunted House?


When my parents bought our house, they didn't know it was haunted. They did know, however, that it was very very old (mid 1700s). They also knew that it must have seen the Civil War. My mother being an art teacher and an aspiring historian, was thrilled at the idea of uncovering a history that was rather vague upon the purchase. As she learned more about its history, she began to realize the potential relics that were on the grounds and so a metal detector was purchased. My siblings and I spent our childhood digging up relics with as much regularity as taking out the trash. But, it was almost the moment we moved in that my parents noticed something not quite right. Visits from past residents brought up stories of the ghosts that jived with what my parents and older siblings were noting. I grew up in it from the time I was a baby. It was never something I thought of as "ghosts" but as "the house." It was "the house" that made noises. It was "the house" that showed glimpses of figures. The only ghosts I knew of were Casper and he was a floating white sheet and we definitely had none of those!

My parents loved the house, us kids thought the haunting action was perfectly normal. No one felt threatened. We felt as if we simply had "extra" family members.

But, would you buy a house that you knew was haunted? One where people had died? One that the owners had to divulge they had some "issues"?

I'm going to give you three scenarios. Tell me if any of the you would buy and which ones you would not buy?

1. An elderly man died in his bed in the back of the house. The family members selling the house upon occasion smelled his pipe smoke and sometimes objects in the kitchen moved from one place to another when they set them down. They suspect he would never leave the home because he built it and it was his life-time pride and joy. They also have no idea how he would receive non-family members.

2. A man shot and killed his wife and then himself 30 years ago in the home. Two other families had lived there since then and all reported a sense of someone sitting on the edge of the master room bed and sometimes a sense of being stared at. Upon occasion, the children saw a man walking down the hall.

3. A teenager hung himself in the house 5 years ago. One family moved in after that and had to relocate so they're selling the place. They do admit that they don't like the guest room downstairs. It makes people very uneasy. Their teenager felt very depressed in that room. A few people reported the door to that room slamming and it having cold spots.

**I'm always supporting new paranormal groups. There's one to check out in Northern Alabama called Moonlight Shadows. Check it out.**

Comments

  1. I would buy a haunted house just so I can say I own a haunted house. :D

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  2. I would absolutely buy a haunted house. And then ghost hunt like crazy =)

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  3. I would buy a haunted house... conditionally... possibly the 2nd and 3rd scenario you present might cause me some discomfort. The 1st example seems innocent enough.

    I noticed that the house around which the Amityville Horror was based is up for sale.. but I really know nothing of what is said to have happened/happened there.

    I would love to visit Gettsyburg... I hear that it is a very haunted location.

    ~shoes~

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  4. Yes. In a heartbeat. Assuming, of course, it was a good buy. Let's not be stupid about this, what with the economy and all... I've encountered some fearful things in my time, but usually it's fleeting. Once you get used to it, it doesn't frighten you as much. I think hauntings can be like animals at the zoo. They're uncomfortable and restless when they first arrive; but, in time, they learn the routine and settle in. Same with when new homeowners come into a house. "The House" gets used to them and vice versa.

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  5. Y'all are braver than I thought. Living in a haunted house is kind of like being a relationship with someone with mania. You just never know in the middle of the night when he'll decide to paint the living room, but every day certainly is interesting. I have a friend who recently sold a second home and was intrigued by the idea of buying a haunted place to do a long-term study. I like that idea. My dream has been to get an old haunted place and make it into a haunted B&B. At 10 pm each evening have warm brandy and ghost stories about the place by the fireplace and then send the folks off to bed with ghost hunting tools in their rooms. On Saturday nights--a seance. On Friday nights--a group EVP session. What a fun life that'd be. Plus, I love cooking breakfast for folks.

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  6. I want a newer house just so I don't have to deal with 'fixer upper' issues like rot and termites.

    And they don't build new haunted houses, unless they knocked down an old haunted house and the spirits lingered...

    Maybe I'll luck out and get the best of both worlds?

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  7. I would! It would keep things interesting and I believe I'm the type to create a harmonious environment for us all! I'd just have to keep my daughter from getting too scared!

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  8. Having owned a haunted house for 12 years...ummm..HELLS YEAH! LOL Of course when we purchased the home we didn't know, but then "things" started happening, a family members wife's mother grew up in the neighborhood and at a Christmas party told us that as kids this was "the haunted house" in the neighborhood. The house had quite the history of residents so it was pretty active, especially when we first moved in. So yes, I would buy a haunted house with no problems. However, living in a home with oppressive heavy energy like the third home would be a bit difficult as I pick up on that energy like a flu virus! Hmmm...I'm sure I could do things to cleanse and whatnot to help it though! I'm game!

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  9. Good attitude! I'm quite surprised how many folks would be fine with a ghost or two. The only thing you really have to fear is your own thoughts and worries, your own anxiety and mind games. The actual physical manifestation of a spirit, whether in an apparition, knocking things around, or speaking, are all things that startle us. The ironic thing is that we wouldn't think anything of hearing our spouse talking through the bedroom wall to us in the living room, but because we don't know the source of a ghost voice, we freak out.

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  10. I really like that idea of a haunted B&B... how cool would THAT be?!?!?!

    ~shoes~

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  11. Hey I live in north alabama! I'm definitely going to check that out!

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  12. I would but I dont think I would pick any of those.

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  13. I wouldn't buy a haunted house. :[ I'm too scared, I'm all talk!

    And out of the three, I'd go with the first one with the old man. I wouldn't disturb him so hopefully he wouldn't mind. If not that then, the third one, I'd just would never go in the guest room.

    But I'd NEVER choose the second one. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

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  14. We lived in a haunted house as kids. We just got used to the odds sounds that the feeling that something was "there". We got used to talking to him and saying "hi" - I guess as kids if you don't know you are supposed to be scared, you aren't. In fact the first tombstone that I made for my haunt was in memory of the guy that haunted that house. Kind of a family inside joke and definitely a nod to one of the reasons I like "creepy" stuff.

    Sometimes I think that my current house is haunted cause the cats all run up to a wall and just stare at it and there is nothing there....creeps me out sometimes:)

    Cheers!

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  15. I would go for door # 2. That one sounds the scariest and the most likely place to see some real action. It also sounds like the best one to watch horror movies in during a thunderstorm. I mean, who cares if the kitchen counters are granite or not with that kind of amenity.

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  16. Number one I think would depend on how much I actually loved the house. Two and three...no way...violent death means violent ghost to me. I don't need any more negative energy in my house. I am actually starting to wonder if some bad things went down in the house I am living in now...

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  17. I would not knowingly buy a haunted house or rent a haunted apt. Options two and three - no and no. Option one, well, if someone actually told me they felt any presence even if harmless one of the old fella who built the house, I would avoid it if I could.

    Having rented lots of apts as a student, I actually looked up laws on whether landlords have to tell you if a person has died (especially violently) on the premises. Apparently they do in some jurisdictions but only within a certain time window, in other places, no.

    I lived in a 16th century building in europe for a few months that had a bad atmosphere, water faucets turning on by themselves, that sort of thing.

    Everything could be logically explained I guess in terms of water pressure or pipes, but there were a few other incidents there less easily explained. No one could get any sleep there. It was unsettled and negative - the mood of the bldg flowed like water, and one never felt quite alone when one was alone. I'm not really keen on repeating anything like that or worse, however it is explained, scientifically or not.

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  18. I wouldn't mind buying a haunted house if the spirits there don't bother other people. The first example might be the better options, since the rest is a bit too spooky to live in. Anyway, are you still living in that house?

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  19. Hey Randy;
    We moved out when I was a teen. My father wanted to move west. It was an interesting thing to grow up in a haunted home since I was a baby. I take the phenomena a little different. I'm just finishing writing a book "Growing Up With Ghosts" about the stories of my family members and myself and the things we encountered.

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  20. Out of the three situations, the first one would be the most favorable. Unless you plan on giving the house a serious facelift, there would not be any hostility, unlike the other two.

    Anyway, it can be an interesting experience, though it would be best to find any information regarding the house and hauntings first. That way, you would be able to weigh in your options and see if you can live in that home in the long run.

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  21. I accidentally bought a haunted house and all we've had is the most oppressive energy. Plus, since my oldest son and I are empaths, we BOTH NEVER want to leave the house. We do, but it's only if it's necessary like the store or something. He's just started working for his dad, so I'm hoping him being here for shorter times than when he was here all day, that THAT will help him with his oppression. But, me, I just can't seem to break out of this tremendous oppression and depression. I have NO motivation, no drive. I'm just existing, not living. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but he's even seen our recliner in the living room lift up approximately 3-4 fee in the air and slam over on it's side. WE had been fighting at the time, plus it was around 2"30 in he morning. Anyway, I am trying desperately to get my husband to get us out of this house. I feel like it's killing me, plus we always have some sort of hard, beige colored liquid dripping down the wall! You have to have dog gone scraper to scrap it up and even then, I can't ever get it all off. Everybody in this house has a BAD temper. We'll be laughing and joking one minute, then the next, it's game on fighting each other. All I know is if my husband loves me and our kids, he will get us THE HELL OUT OF HERE! This has BEEN going on too long.

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