You may have found the perfect house to buy, then you realise it’s near a cemetery. But the question is; should you buy this house or should you give it a miss? When you buy a house, its location is so important and many homeowners would don’t want to see gravestones out of their windows.
There are a number of factors to consider when buying a house near to a cemetery, which include how easy or difficult it will be to sell the house in the future, what you can afford and what effect this will have on future house price increases. Which is why it is important to consider carefully whether it’s bad to buy a house near a cemetery.
Properties near cemeteries take longer to sell, but as with any house when it comes to buying one near a cemetery it’s about location, as some research shows that houses near cemeteries sell for less than ones further away, whilst in other places houses near cemeteries sell for more per square foot.
Is it a bad idea to buy a house next to a cemetery?
It can be a bad idea to buy a house next to a cemetery, as the house may stay on the market for longer when it comes to selling in the future. This is because there are fewer people willing to buy houses next to cemeteries for reasons varying from religious beliefs to superstitions and taboos.
Homebuyers that will not buy a house near to a cemetery?
Some people consider it taboo to live next to a cemetery.
Some elderly homebuyers don’t like living near a resting place, as it’s too close for comfort and a reminder of their mortality.
Superstitious homebuyers will not buy houses near tombstones.
Some homebuyers are scared to live near a cemetery as they get the heebie-jeebies at the site of tombstones.
Indians and Asians won’t live near cemeteries due to cultural reasons.
Some homebuyers consider a cemetery is bad for Feng Shui, which includes the Chinese.
Religious beliefs stop some people buying near cemeteries, which includes Muslims and Hindus.
It is down to the reduced number of homebuyers willing to buy houses near cemeteries that can slowdown the house sale. It is this reduced demand that could also drive down the price too, but studies show that some houses within 50 feet of cemeteries sell for more.
Hollywood and scary movies haven’t helped the sale of houses near graveyards and tombstones, as horror movies drive people’s imaginations, which will affect their decision when it comes to living near a gravesite.
Does living near a cemetery affect property value?
Property values near cemeteries may be adversely affected by their proximity to the cemetery, resulting from reduced numbers of buyers who will live next to gravesites due to personal beliefs and superstitions. But houses near cemeteries tend to sell for more per square foot and take longer to sell.
“Despite grave concerns from some potential buyers, homes less than 50 feet from a cemetery sell for more money per square foot than homes farther away.”
According to Realtor.com the median price of US ZIP codes with a cemetery is about 12% lower than neighbouring areas. This research included a list of federal state cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Houses near cemeteries in the UK
Research by HouseSimple.com in the UK revealed that properties on streets bordering a graveyard can be worth 50% less that the area’s average. Their research concluded that on average houses near cemeteries are 23% below the area’s average house price.
For example, from the 13 UK towns studied, houses in London on a road near St. Patrick’s cemetery have an average price of £258,400 vs the postcode average of £511,311, which is 49.9% less. Also, in Middlesbrough, houses on roads near Linthorpe cemetery are worth on average £78,000 vs the postcode average of £138,793, which is 43.8% less.
The UK town where houses that are near cemeteries and worth more than the surrounding houses in the same postcode include Leeds and Southampton. In Leeds houses are worth 7.4% more if they are near a cemetery and 6.9% more in Southampton.
What this survey doesn’t take into account is the type and size of the houses, as this will affect the results of the survey. A better measure of house prices are affected by their proximity to a cemetery would be to use value per square foot or metre instead, which is what Redfin did in their study.
House prices using value per square foot near to cemeteries in the Seattle
The study carried out by Redfin in Seattle in America, it was discovered that homes near cemeteries sell for more, but take longer to sell.
For example, it was found that houses within 50 feet (15 metres) of a cemetery sold for $162 per square foot and took 48 days to sell vs houses more than 1,000 yards (914 metres) from a graveyard sold for $145 per square foot and took 39 days to sell.
The study of homes in Seattle shows that houses built within 50 feet of a cemetery sell for nearly 12% more per square foot than houses that are more than 1,000 yards away.
As with any property purchase or sale it is the supply and demand of particular types of property that will affect its price and how quickly the house will sell. Which means that even though some research suggests otherwise, if there are less buyers interested in a house, this may adversely affect its value.
What does this mean for you? It means that you should do your research and check properties values from sold comparables of similar houses to the one you are thinking about buying. As the research shows different affects of graveyards on house prices, you need to find out what the situation is with the town and houses near the cemetery where you intend to buy.
What is it like to live next to a graveyard?
It is mostly peaceful and quiet living next to a graveyard, but at times it can be busy whenever there is a funeral taking place.
What are the pros and cons of buying a house near a cemetery?
As with anything, there are always pros and cons to consider. As far as buying a house near a cemetery the pros and cons include.
What are the advantages of buying a house near a cemetery?
Homes located near cemeteries can be more affordable.
Cemeteries are unlikely to ever be developed as gravesites cannot be built upon and they are classed as green spaces.
Areas near cemeteries tend to be quiet places to live.
Some cemeteries are lovely places to walk.
Cemeteries are normally well maintained and picturesque places to enjoy.
It will be a short walk to church if the graveyard is next to your church and you are a churchgoer.
Cemeteries in larger cities create pockets of peace and tranquillity with greenery and can be in high demand.
If a loved one is buried in the cemetery, it will be easy to visit.
Cemeteries can be a reminder of how precious life can be and be a positive place to live.
What are the disadvantages of buying a house near a cemetery?
Not everyone wants to live near a cemetery, as the sight of gravestones makes some people uneasy, especially at night or around Halloween.
Houses near a cemetery may take longer to sell.
Houses near cemeteries can cost more per square foot.
House price growth of properties near cemeteries may be lower.
Cemeteries represent mortality and can be off-putting.
Houses near cemeteries tend to be smaller.
Funeral processions can cause congestion at times.
If it’s next to a church you may have bells ringing at certain times.
Cemeteries with famous people buried there can be tourist attractions and get busy.
Rundown cemeteries can attract the wrong people.
Possible source of environmental contamination from the formaldehyde from the embalming liquid used to preserve bodies.
Go for a walk in the cemetery, but make sure to be respectful of the gravesites and of anyone visiting their lost loved ones.
When you are viewing the house, make sure to look from the windows that overlook the cemetery and see how you feel about seeing gravestones.
Is it bad Feng Shui to live near cemetery?
For those who believe in the energies of Feng Shui it is bad to live near a cemetery, as graveyards give off negative Yin energy as a result of the dead and decaying energy. As a result of living near a graveyard your Yang energy may be drained by the bad Yin energy.
Do cemeteries smell bad?
Most cemeteries don’t smell bad as the coffins are buried beneath the soil.
Is cemetery a health risk?
Cemeteries are generally not a health risk even with the formaldehyde from the embalming liquid used to preserve bodies that is thought may leak into the surrounding area.
How close is too close to a cemetery?
How close is too close to a cemetery is down to the individual, as some people love living near cemeteries, whilst others wouldn’t buy a house any where near a cemetery.
Is living next to a cemetery bad luck?
Living next to a cemetery is only bad luck if you belief in superstitions around good and bad luck, so if you don’t believe in bad luck it won’t be bad luck to live near a cemetery.
Final thoughts on is it bad to buy a plot near a graveyard
Cemeteries rarely change and it’s unlikely it would ever become something else, as gravesites are sacrosanct. So don’t buy on the hope that things will change in the future because it’s unlikely it will ever be anything other than a cemetery.
I recall the strangest place I found a graveyard, which was in the middle of a university. It was when I accompanied my daughter to the university when she was deciding on which one to join. We found it strange when we came across this large gravesite in the middle of the university.
The point I am making is that the university was built around the graveyard, not on top of it.
Finally, check if the cemetery is used for the burial of veterans, because if it is there will be a military salute on the day of the funeral, so be prepared for gunshots.
But remember, living near a cemetery will mean you have quiet neighbours and the dead can’t hurt you, but it’s the living you need to watch out for. Plus there’s nothing wrong with being reminded of death as it makes you appreciate life all the more.
This was understood by our ancestors who said ‘memento mori‘ meaning “remember you must die“, which is why people were buried in the centre of towns and not hidden away in crematories miles from anywhere.
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Article written by Russell Bowyer who has been investing in property since purchasing his first commercial property in the 1990's for his own Chartered Accountancy business. But his first property investment project was to turn an old dilapidated restaurant into a large 5-bed home, which he purchased for £117,500 and sold for £450,000 (to see an "after" photo of the house before it was sold see here: About). Russell owns a number of investment properties, which includes houses, flats and HMO's. More recently he has turned his creative side to investing in property using lease options. His largest lease option deal to date was to acquire 12 properties worth over £2 million for just £12, which means he paid just £1 to acquire each property!
