Future Haunted House for Sale!

Are you looking for a bargain on a used house? Consider the property at 2791 Calkins Place in Broomfield. It is now for sale after sitting vacant for nearly two years. Why?

On September 12, 2009 a 36-year-old woman and her 46-year-old ex-husband were found shot and killed in the home in an apparent murder/suicide. Three children under 5 years of age were in the home at the time of the killings along with a male acquaintance of the woman. This acquaintance apparently called the police.

The house is listed for $264,500 which is a little low for the neighborhood – probably due to the poor condition of the yard – but seemingly high considering the nasty history of the property. But why should it be that way?

We all know how it works. When people die in particularly violent ways, their spirits tend to hang around the scene of the crime to torment future inhabitants. They open and close doors, make the floors creak, and cause vases to fall from their tables. And, of course, they restrict their activities to the evening hours. We all know this, right?

According to a CBS News Poll, nearly half of all Americans – 48% - believe in ghosts. Women are more likely to believe in ghosts than men – 56% for women and 38% for men. In addition, according to the poll, 22% of Americans actually believe they have seen or felt the presence of a ghost.

These are staggering numbers considering there is absolutely no evidence that ghosts exist. In fact, for all practical purposes, ghosts are imaginary. And yet, this imaginary belief has real-world consequences that can be reflected in the actual sales prospects of this house in Broomfield.

Would I be bothered to buy a house with such a sinister history? Not at all. We would have hellacious Halloween parties and we would give guided tours of the scene of the crime. And, year-round, I would greet visitors at the door with a zombie mask and fake blood running down my face. But the reality is that if we were to buy this house at a cut rate price due to its history, we would have an equally difficult time trying to resell it due to the same history.

And all because of an imaginary set of beliefs held by half of all Americans. A house with a violent past is doomed to sit vacant or sell at a bargain price because half of our neighbors believe that this residence may be the home of ghosts. Is this home at 2791 Calkins place haunted? Not in any real sense, but for all practical purposes – yes.

Stan Monroe