House for sale: The creepiest listings on Zillow and the internet
Have you hit a wall in quarantine and are looking for something – literally anything – to do? Well, if you answered “yes” to this question from the sunblocked confines of your bedroom, then keep reading because things are about to get certified spooky!
Real estate websites like Zillow & Realtor.com are great for looking at potential houses for aspiring homebuyers and dreamers like you & me who hope one day to just have a structure to lay claim to. They are also great places for mysteries. We’ve compiled a list of some of the creepiest listings and their backstories available to you on the web. You can thank us by getting out of bed and washing that stack of dishes.
The Pillars Estate
Nestled into Albion, NY on the shores of Lake Ontario, exists a 19th century Victorian home that was recently sold in July 2020 for $500,000. Containing six bedrooms, three full baths, three half baths, a library, and “numerous chandeliers” this stately manor was slowly restored over the course of the past eleven years to its current grandeur in the tradition of its past splendor.
With a grand staircase modeled after the one aboard the Titanic, the house required a lot of upkeep, so the former owner Tony McMurtie enlisted the help of Cora Goyette to assist in his renovations. And that’s when things took an unsettling turn.
Reports from McMurtie, Goyette, and various staff & handymen contained stories of footsteps on the stairs, piano being played by no one, and on more than one occasion the voices of young children have been heard. Goyette no longer wants to be alone in the house and we don’t blame her.
A mystery house in South Carolina
This house doesn’t have an official name, but that doesn’t mean it’s not recognizable. After making the rounds on the internet in 2017, the 2,656-square-foot house in Cayce, SC generated a lot of interest from a concerning description in the listing.
“Upstairs apartment cannot be shown under any circumstances,” the listing warned. “Buyer assumes responsibility for the month-to-month tenancy in the upstairs apartment. Occupant has never paid, and no security deposit is being held, but there is a lease in place. (Yes, it does make sense, please don’t bother asking.)”
In the listing, that included pictures of the “diamond in the rough” house, it was obvious that the single-family home was in need of some repairs and even displayed some mysterious red stains on a door. But before you get too into the mystery, it was later debunked and explained away in an article by Jeff Wilkinson published on The State. It’s fun to dream though!
The Carleton Island Villa
Situated on a 6.9 acre lot with wraparound access to the waterfront, the Carleton Island Villa has been entirely vacant for over 70 years. After being built in 1895 for typewriter magnate William Wyckoff, he reportedly died of a heart attack during his first stay in the estate on July 11, 1895, a little over a month after his wife passed away from cancer.
After staying within the family until 1927, it was eventually sold to the General Electric Company who made plans to tear down the estate in order to use the land for corporate retreats.
After inviting architectural salvagers to ravage the home and take things like moulding, wood panelings, doors, and even the marble base to the five-story tower, plans to continue the renovations were scrapped and the building sat in disrepair for years.
While no official reports of hauntings have been recorded, there’s not enough money in the world to get us to spend a night within the dwelling. But the right coat of paint and an Extreme Home Makeover DIY-moment could turn the Carleton Island Villa into a lovely escape from the everyday grind. Check it out on Realtor.com
Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home
Located in Akron, OH, this unassuming three bedroom, three bath ranch-style house is the childhood home of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Before becoming a household name, Dahmer grew up in this little dwelling and here he murdered Steven Hicks in 1978 – the first victim in his prolific serial killing career. Dahmer reportedly scattered the remains in the woods out back.
And with all of this in mind, we still think this house is kind of adorable. Just look at that sun room for your plants and the glass block windows in the bathroom are gorgeous! If you can get past its sorted past, then this house is definitely the most liveable of all the ones on this list.
A slanted surprise
We definitely saved the best for last because this house is nuts. When scrolling through the pictures on Zillow, it’s hard not to start off in complete bewilderment as to what the problem could be. Complete with a newly renovated flair, sublime wood floors, and a master bath to die for (heh), with the exception of the slight slant to the exterior, this house is absolutely liveable. Until you get to picture #30.
What began as a lovely option for a fussy couple on House Hunters, quickly nose dives into one of the craziest mysteries on this list. Billed as a “2465 sq ft” home with “the best part” being a “2500 sq ft legitimate jail with 9 cells, booking room and ½ bath” that is trying to be spun as a huge ceiling point for potential buyers.
Sadly we will not be buying this house, but you can because this is one of the few houses on this list that is still available for purchase. So what are you waiting for? Check it out on Zillow!
