Single-family? Check. Affordable monthly mortgage payment? Of course. Inhabited by beings not of this world? You bet.
The desire to become a homeowner is alive and well, but willingness to live in a haunted house varies by region and demographic.
Just in time for Halloween, moveBuddha unleashed the results of its Haunted Homes Survey, conducted by Pollfish in October 2024. All 1,250 respondents were between the ages of 18 and 99 and live in the U.S. Addressing the question, “Would you live in a haunted house?” they were given multiple choices, including conditional incentives.
Nearly half of respondents said they’d consider it; some even indicated they already live in one.
"We were curious about people’s willingness to live in a haunted house," said Ryan Carrigan, founder of moveBuddha. “It’s interesting to see how younger generations are more flexible, but still cautious when it comes to spooky real estate."
Thrill-Seeking By Generational
The younger the respondent, the more susceptible they are to the idea of living in a haunted house. Baby Boomers are quick to say “Never,” whereas 63% of Gen Zers and 56% of Millennials respondents are gung-ho about moving into a haunted house.
Even though a minority of Baby Boomers are up for living in a haunted house, they’re more likely than the younger generations to move in without incentives. Gen Z respondents more frequently indicated they would do it only if someone paid them to.
A Regional View
Survey respondents are reportedly already living with ghosts. A small 4% believe their house is already haunted, with slightly higher claims in the West (5.3%) and South (4.3%) versus the Northeast (3.1%) and Midwest (3.7%).
Residents of the Northeastern U.S. — which has some of the oldest real estate in the country — happen to be the least eager to call a haunted house home, with 56% saying "No, never." On the other hand, those in the West and South are more agreeable to the idea, at 52% and 51%, respectively.
"If You Pay Me To"
Although 49% of survey respondents said “Yes” to living in a haunted house, the majority wouldn’t do it for free. In fact, 57% of those who said "Yes" would only move in if they were paid to live there.
