Oct 26, 20234 min read

So You Want To Buy a Haunted House?

Updated: Jun 19

At a recent initial consultation with a prospective buyer, I found myself in the presence of someone with a unique set of priorities.

As she pulled out a meticulously organized file filled with images of her dream home's architectural features – balconies that overlooked Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter, ceilings that seemed to touch the heavens, windows that bathed the room in natural light, and the timeless allure of hardwood floors – I couldn't help but be captivated by her vision.

She painted a vivid picture of the perfect New Orleans home, one that embodied the city's rich history, charm, and architectural grandeur. But then came the unexpected twist, a request that was far from the ordinary – she wanted her dream home to come with a "benevolent spector," aka a friendly ghost.

Her inquiry wasn't driven by fear, but rather a fascination with the idea of sharing her living space with a spectral presence. It was a request that I, as a New Orleans realtor, had heard before, and it always left me pondering the unique intersection of real estate and the supernatural.

Let's Go House Haunting

In a city steeped in history and rich with tales of the paranormal, the idea of living alongside a friendly ghost isn't as far-fetched as it might seem. New Orleans has long been known for its haunted history, with stories of voodoo priestesses, restless spirits, and haunted mansions filling the pages of local folklore.

In fact, a recent survey by allstarhome.com discovered that 24% of Americans would buy a haunted home and that 16% believe their current home already is haunted.

But, even before I contemplated the challenge of finding a home with a benevolent ghost, I knew that such a search would transcend the boundaries of traditional real estate. I mean, there's no box to click on Zillow that reads "haunted," even in a city like ours.

I knew that the signs hanging on properties, reading "haunted" or "not haunted," were often more marketing gimmicks than certainties. The truth was that the MLS, our primary database for property listings, lacked categories for the paranormal. We couldn't filter homes based on the presence of otherworldly occupants; we were confined to tangible aspects like square footage and neighborhood amenities.

Moreover, a national database of registered haunted properties was far from a reliable source. Stories of hauntings were typically anecdotal and notoriously difficult to prove. Paranormal activity is, by nature, elusive and subjective. What might be perceived as a friendly ghost to one buyer could be a source of discomfort for another.

Where to begin? Folklore? Gossip? Ghost tours?

I prefer to underpromise and over-deliver, so I informed her that we could absolutely find a place with history, charm, and character... but I made no commitments to finding one with a friendly ghost. She understood.

Do you need to disclose a haunted house?

Certainly, people who list homes need to disclose if there's a ghost? A violent crime? A murder?! Turns out, no.

According to the legal perspective provided by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission:

"The fact or suspicion that a property might be, or is psychologically impacted, such impact being the result of facts or suspicions, including but not limited to:

That an occupant of real property is, or was at any time suspected to be, infected, or has been infected with Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) or diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), or any other disease which has been determined by medical evidence to be highly unlikely to be transmitted through the occupancy of a dwelling place; or

That the property was, or was not at any time suspected to have been, the site of a homicide, or other felony, or a suicide, is not a material fact or material defect regarding the condition of the real estate that must be disclosed in a real estate transaction.

No cause of action shall arise against an owner of real estate, or his or her agent, for the failure to disclose to the transferee that the transferred property was psychologically impacted as defined herein."

Buy Ain't Afraid of No Ghost

I did manage to find the perfect place for my client in the heart of the French Quarter, with a balcony overlooking Royal Street. It had windows that flew up from the floor, fireplaces, a courtyard, and high ceilings; basically, it was the embodiment of her architectural dreams. She was happy. Couldn't wait to get her keys.

I was thrilled she was excited even though we hadn't found a true Michael Jackson, Thriller, of a home. She knew where every antique piece she had would go, and that was more than adequate.

I went to check everything out for a walk-through while she packed her belongings. Everything was in place. I went back to turn off the lights and lock up. I shut every door one by one, admiring the details of each room. It wasn't until I got to the front and final door that I suddenly heard several doors slam shut.

Oddly, no doors had been left physically open when I did my lockup routine. I carefully and bravely looked back to do a quick check. Every door was shut tight. This property, it seemed, had a specter after all. Benevolent or not, it had certainly captured my attention, and I hastily made my exit.

To my relief, after my client moved in, she never heard a door slam. In fact, I received nothing but good feedback from her about the property. The only sign of anything was a ceiling fan that would spin on its own on occasion. Perhaps the ghost was celebrating with us.

Sometimes, in the city of New Orleans, even the most peculiar wish lists can be met. Got a unique set of priorities? We can't make too many promises, but sometimes we do get what we want and more.

Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor, Team Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.

Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing agent in New Orleans and the founder and leader of Cool Murphy, LLC.

You can learn more about her here.