Haunted Real Estate, Things you Should Know

Editor’s update (October 11, 2026): This is my original June 7, 2016 article, expanded with context from my 2013 purchase of the Welles House, contemporary newspaper reporting, recorded LiveSciFi footage, and a carefully dated look at properties currently marketed with haunted-house reputations. My paranormal experiences are personal accounts, not independently established proof of supernatural activity.

Haunted House for Sale? Beware What You Might Be Buying

When I originally wrote this article, haunted real estate was attracting considerable attention. The Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, was being discussed as a property for sale, and I knew firsthand why people were fascinated by the idea of owning a haunted house. In December 2013, I had purchased the Welles House at 46 South Welles Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a location associated with decades of reported paranormal activity. I also discuss the house’s reported Warren connection in my overview of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s paranormal cases. Read LiveSciFi’s Sallie House history and investigation for the background on that property’s reputation.

As the founder of LiveSciFi.tv, I had spent years broadcasting live ghost hunts. I thought owning a notoriously haunted house might allow me to investigate a location in greater depth than a typical visit. What I underestimated was how different ownership would feel from investigating a place for a night or even a week.

There is a side of haunted real estate that rarely makes it into a sensational listing: the everyday responsibility for the building, unwanted visitors, repairs, legal exposure and, in my case, the emotional weight of experiences I interpreted as paranormal. I learned those lessons as the person who actually bought the house.

Why I Bought the Welles House in 2013

Before I bought the Welles House, I spent October 2013 living at the property to investigate its reputation. I was drawn to a real-estate listing that openly promoted it as haunted. I wanted to understand what witnesses had reported and to give viewers the opportunity to watch the investigation unfold through LiveSciFi’s live broadcasts.

I ultimately purchased the house in December 2013. This timeline was documented at the time by local reporting in the Times Leader’s February 2014 coverage. The Citizens’ Voice also covered my ownership and plans to investigate the house; its original article, “New owner to investigate allegedly haunted W-B house” was linked in my 2016 post. That older newspaper URL may no longer resolve, so I have retained it as a historical source reference rather than pretending the article is currently accessible.

The home was already familiar to investigators and local residents because of its disturbing stories. Some accounts described unexplained noises, apparent apparitions or an oppressive atmosphere. These were reported experiences and claims; the existence of a haunting was never established as a scientific fact. For a longer look at the location’s history, read my related article: Welles House: A Haunting Worse Than Amityville?

What It Was Like to Own a House I Believed Was Haunted

The Atmosphere and Experiences Took a Toll

The most difficult part of the Welles House was not an individual noise or an unusual reading on a device. It was how I experienced the atmosphere inside. At times I found the house almost unbearable: heavy, dark and depressing, like a sky filled with clouds that never cleared. I remember feeling uneasy simply being there.

I also believed I experienced a threatening presence in the house. In my original account, I described that presence as demonic. That was my interpretation of what I experienced, not a conclusion I could prove objectively. I had conducted investigations in numerous locations, but being responsible for a building where I felt that way was a completely different kind of commitment.

One of the most disturbing things for me was the sense that those experiences did not stay confined to Pennsylvania. I reported frightening incidents involving my family at our home in California, about 2,000 miles away, which I associated at the time with the Welles House. I cannot demonstrate a supernatural connection between the two locations. What I can say is that worrying about my family caused me to question whether buying the house had been the right decision.

Those experiences changed how I think about the phrase haunted house for sale. A buyer might see an exciting investigation site. An owner has to live with uncertainty, responsibility and the effects that fear can have on a household.

Break-Ins and Damage Were Not Paranormal — They Were Real Costs

Once the property’s reputation and my investigations drew publicity, people became determined to have their own experience inside. In my original 2016 article, I reported roughly a dozen break-ins during the first months of ownership, even after I installed security equipment. I also reported thousands of dollars in repairs to damaged doors and windows, along with damage to parts of the historic structure that could not easily be repaired.

Whether a house is haunted or not, trespassing and vandalism are serious practical problems. A well-known paranormal property can attract curious people who ignore the owner’s privacy and the property’s safety. Before buying one, consider the cost of alarms, cameras, insurance, maintenance, securing entry points and protecting the neighbors from unwanted traffic.

Could You Run Ghost Tours or Paid Investigations?

Some prospective owners imagine converting a famous haunted property into a ghost-tour business. My advice is to investigate the legal and financial realities before closing on the sale. Zoning rules, building and fire codes, occupancy limits, parking restrictions, accessibility obligations, business licensing and insurance requirements can all affect whether tours or overnight events are permitted.

At the Welles House, the activity I thought I experienced was so unsettling that I did not want to invite people into the building simply to provoke a reaction. Beyond that personal decision, I also had to think about the risks of other people entering a historic structure and conducting investigations. A guest injury or an unauthorized entry is an owner’s problem, regardless of what anyone believes about ghosts.

Even a well-publicized haunted house should be evaluated first as real estate: roof, foundation, electrical and heating systems, structural safety, historic-preservation restrictions, local regulations and an insurance policy that actually matches how the property will be used.

Watch My Welles House Live Ghost Hunt

LiveSciFi’s long-form broadcasts let viewers follow an investigation as it happened instead of relying solely on edited highlights. The following live ghost hunt is part of the record connected with the Welles House and my time investigating the property. You can watch the footage and form your own view of what occurred.

The February 2014 Times Leader follow-up documented a LiveSciFi investigation with John Zaffis and Dave Spinks and described the broadcast on YouTube. Contemporary independent reporting is valuable for establishing that investigations took place; it should not be confused with independent verification of the paranormal claims.

Haunted Houses for Sale: Examples Checked in October 2026

Famous haunted properties change ownership, and old real-estate articles often remain online after a house sells. The examples below had active sale listings when I checked on October 11, 2026. Prices and availability can change without notice. Neither listing proves that a ghost inhabits the property; each has a different kind of historical or folkloric association.

Baddow House, Maryborough, Queensland — Around AUD $3 Million

Built in 1883, Baddow House is a heritage-listed mansion at 366 Queen Street in Maryborough, Australia. The property has been used for various purposes over its long history, including ghost tours, and has acquired a reputation for a resident ghost. Its owner has said that he personally has not experienced supernatural activity. The current real-estate listing describes a five-bedroom, three-bathroom restored residence marketed for approximately AUD $3 million. Read the September 2026 property report.

Abby Bradley Estate, Hingham, Massachusetts — $2,849,000 USD

This six-bedroom, 1860 Italianate Victorian at 60 Bradley Hill Road was listed in August 2026 for $2,849,000. Its historic architecture includes multiple fireplaces and a hidden passageway. Before a long period of ownership and restoration, it was reportedly known among neighborhood children as the local haunted house. That is a reputation, not evidence of a supernatural presence. Check the current property listing and read the background reporting.

Why listing dates matter: The Octagon Mansion in Wytheville, Virginia, attracted headlines as a reportedly haunted home for sale in June 2026, but property records show a July 2026 sale. It is not included among the currently available properties. Always verify listing status directly before planning a visit or making an offer.

Before You Buy Haunted Real Estate: My Checklist

• Separate the story from the records. Research the history, ownership, permits and known incidents through reliable documents. Ask for sources behind any claims in the listing.
• Inspect the property thoroughly. Old homes can have ordinary explanations for sounds, odors, moisture, drafts and electrical problems. Hire the appropriate licensed professionals for the home and location.
• Ask about disclosures. Real-estate disclosure requirements for deaths, stigmatized properties and alleged hauntings vary by jurisdiction. Consult a local real-estate professional or attorney rather than assuming every seller must report the same information.
• Plan for curiosity seekers. Think through trespassing, vandalism, cameras, locks, neighbor relations and ongoing maintenance.
• Confirm any business use in writing. Ghost tours, filming, paid investigations and overnight stays may require separate permits and insurance.
• Consider the personal impact. Even when activity has an ordinary explanation, repeated fear, disrupted sleep or concern for family can affect quality of life.

Was Buying the Welles House Worth It?

People asked me this question when I first wrote the article, and it is still a difficult one to answer. Buying the Welles House gave me access to a unique location and experiences I continue to think about. It also brought fear, unwanted attention, security concerns, expense and difficult decisions about what responsibility I owed to others.

I would never tell someone that a house is haunted because a listing says so, or promise that a paranormal reputation automatically adds value. After owning the Welles House myself, I believe the right question is not simply whether you want a haunted house. It is whether you are prepared for everything that comes with owning a real house that the public believes is haunted.

For more about the history and the experiences reported at 46 South Welles Street, explore my Welles House investigation and historical account, or watch more LiveSciFi paranormal episodes and ghost hunts. If you have owned a house with a haunting reputation, share your experience in the comments — especially what the real-estate listing didn’t prepare you for.

Sources and Further Reading

• The Citizens’ Voice — “New owner to investigate allegedly haunted W-B house” (historical original link; live accessibility is not guaranteed).
• Times Leader — “W-B haunting to get YouTube exposure” (originally posted February 12, 2014).
• Times Leader — “Something spooky is going on here” (originally posted February 16, 2014).
• Realestate.com.au — Baddow House active listing (checked October 11, 2026).
• Zillow — Abby Bradley Estate active listing (checked October 11, 2026).
• Zillow — Buying a Haunted House: What You Need to Know (background on stigmatized real estate and disclosures).

Original article published June 7, 2016 by Tim Wood. Restored and expanded October 11, 2026. Statements about personal paranormal experiences reflect my recollections and interpretation; historical real-estate listings are identified by date.