Would you buy a house near a cemetery?

Well I would love a house near such a nice cemetery. It's your boyfriend who has to be comfortable about it though. How does the house compare to the other real estate he has looked at?

He loves the house. It's perfect for us (he's buying it but we're assuming I will live there at some point). The cemetery is the only thing he's hesitant about.

But, he's buying this to live in but also as an investment, so future resale value is a huge concern to him.

It does make for quiet neighbors.

If this is the only negative about the house and neighborhood....if this is the only "negative" he has about the house, then I would buy it.
Time for him to give up the childish/irrational fear of ghosts/goblins and superstitions.

He doesn't have concerns about ghosts, etc.

Personally, Ihave no problem with living by a cemetery. My DH is not comfortable with that situation, at all. Many people do, so if he's concerned about resale, it might be wise to pass on the house.

Also, instead of asking here, why don't you ask a couple local realtors, ones who have worked in your area for years about how this will affect resale. That will be your best source of info.

I would consider it a plus too. A big one. No one is going to raze it and "put up a parking lot"--or something possibly worse. (Thanks, Joni Mitchell.)

I would think a realtor (not the one selling the house) could provide info on whether or not a cemetery affects resale value (negatively or positively).

We asked his realtor and she didn't think it would be an issue as the house seems priced well for the size and the area (and already has multiple offers on it), but she's doing some research into it to see if it has been an issue in the past in that area.

I was just curious from a general perspective, as I know this forum reaches people from all different types of backgrounds and opinions.

I would prefer, if it backed up to a cemetery! Park like view, no noise... very quiet neighbors!

:)

Moni

Chi, are these the Serrano homes off Trabuco? If so, lovely area. I personally wouldn't be bothered by it but I suspect re-sale may suffer a little.

But it's really all relative when you think about it. If it's a bit more affordable now because of the cemetary, then what you make when you sell will still be a gain from what you bought it for. Does that make sense?

Jodi-

Chi~~~how old is the house?? How many owners has it had? If it has been resold a few times, I would say no one seems to have a problem with it. My first thought when you mentioned it is how is the traffic flow in and out of the cemetary?? Would that be of any concern to you two?

Over all cemetaries are very well kept up so that would make for nice neighbors and Peaceful/Quiet.

Is the price he is paying for it competitive for the area?? I am sure the answer is yes~~it is not like he is getting a deal because of the location right?

If I liked it, I would buy it~~~

It was built in the late 70's and has been sold twice before. I think it's been in a family for a while. We drove through the cemetery when we looked at the house yesterday and saw a few cars parked with families visiting but not much traffic at all. The street leading to it is a dead end so the only traffic is people going to the cemetery.

The thing is, the price seems competitive compared to what we've seen in the area. It doesn't seem to be discounted, and it already has an offer for over asking price right now so obviously it's desirable to other people.

Wouldn't bother me. But, then, I lived in a funeral home when I was growing up. After a "viewing", when everybody left and it started getting to be night time, I felt so sorry for the people downstairs all alone in the casket, I would go down and sit with them and chatter away. I was a strange child.

Oh yes, I would love to live next to a cemetery. I would want to literally be right next to it. So quiet and green and there would never be a chance of someone building there. I'd even buy a plot right over the fence from my house.

Actually there is a developer building some houses and three condos in a defunct church and meeting hall near me. I am seriously considering buying there because they overlook an old and charming cemetery.

If it's a buyer's market (lots of inventory on the market and sellers competing), then anything at all slows the sale of a house, even the color of the tile in a bathroom. If it's a seller's market (low inventory, many buyers competing, like now) you could sell the Addams Family house with multiple offers.

Wouldn't bother me.

I live directly across the street from a cemetery. I have a beautiful view from my living room and bedroom windows. It has tall trees, above ground headstones, and is beautifully kept. My street is not the main entrance but occasionally there is a procession by my house. The cemetery is a quiet neighbor and cuts down on traffic. The cemetery is a favorite place for neighbors to walk, run or go bicycle riding. No pets are allowed.

Chi, he does know he needs to jump on it, if he really wants it right?? In the OC I hear houses are going fast~~~my inlaws live close to Jodi and houses in their area are being snapped up fast and for cash.

I would love to live next to a cemetery - I would spend hours looking at headstones and trying to figure out the lives of those buried there, when they were alive.

Yup, we live near Jodi as well and the market is crazy. A lot of the houses we've seen have gotten 5+ offers on the first weekend they were listed, some all-cash and some over asking. A lot of cash investors are buying up the real estate. If you aren't well qualified you aren't getting a house, it's sad.

It's also scary to think about dropping that kind of money on a house that you see for about 10 minutes. You pretty much have to make up your mind the day you see it if you want to get your bid considered.

Luckily for this house, they aren't reviewing offers until next weekend so we have a day or two to think it through and do some research.

When possible I think it's best to avoid any factor in a house that some people could view as a negative when it's time to sell. As sushipup says, negatives can severely affect resales and value.

Opinions will be divided, but I think most would agree the same house 3 blocks away wouldn't cause any controversy. If so, why take a chance with so much money?

Personally, wouldn't bother me nor hubby as long as it's quiet and has lots of wildlife to watch. :o)
And the fact that the house has several offers seems to confirm it's not a major detriment.
One thing to consider, cemeteries can turn into night time drinking/drug hangouts, so you might also want to check what security is like and if there are any known problems.

It wouldn't bother me, there's a lot worse things than a cemetery to have near you. (Like high voltage power lines, we're fighting that fight right now!)

I would love it, a lovely plot of land and trees never to be destroyed and end up being some eyesore. I understand the concern of resale, we always considered that too. But I value my happiness in the house and location for the time I will be living there more. You never know what the future is. Love it, live it, today! Lives can change in an instant.

Absolutely, especially if I loved the house. The only concern I would have would be how busy the cemetery is. If there are are many funerals and visitors it could detract from the resale value.

No, the thought just depresses me. I like though how some here think it is a positive.
I would keep looking.

My thought is along the lines of sleeperblue--but when there's a funeral with long lines of slow moving cars, will it make it hard to get out/in to your own driveway? That'd be my only worry. No less than living next to a school during drop off/pickup. And it'd be more like a minor concern than it would be a major worry.

I probably wouldn't buy a home near a cemetery, even one as nice as what you describe. I think it would make me feel sad too often.

Without a second thought. Nothing else will be built
there. The solitude and peacefulness is welcoming.
There are a zillion other things that could be nearby
which really would be annoying.... a school, for 1.

It would be a plus for me. Quiet and no strip mall will be built.

Thanks so much for your input. It seems like the vast majority are neutral or see it as a positive.

Just a note - we would not be affected at all by traffic to the cemetery as it has it's own dead-end street that can only be accessed from a main street (a different main street than the house is sourced from). There's a fence or some kind of boundary between the housing development and the cemetery road so it's not even possible to access it from the house without driving at least a mile.

Chisue, we lived 1/2 block from a cemetary and resale was definitely not a problem. My daughter was 4 and loved for us to walk through the paths. There was a family buried there by the last name of Pilgrim and when her grandmother came to visit around Thanksgiving, she asked grandma if they could take a walk and go see the Pilgrims.

The only problem--if you want to call it that--was when I'd be out weeding the flower beds and a funeral procession would drive by. I would slip around the side of the house and go inside until it passed.

You know, if you live in a small village, you're going to live near a cemetery. What's the big deal?

Yes I think I would buy a house near a cemetery, if all other conditions were met.

This post was edited by BeeOHIO on Mon, Jul 15, 13 at 21:49

I have about a three-acre field between my house and the road, living out in the country as I do, and right in the middle of that field is an old, old burying ground. I know of two graves out there for sure, as they have markers. There could be more graves, I have no idea. The ones with the markers have been there more than 100 years. Those people are very quiet and don't bother anyone at all. I'd not hesitate to buy that house!

I'd have no problem living near a cemetery, for all the reasons previously cited.
It does slightly amuse me that the road leading to the cemetery is a "dead end" :-)

Alisande, that is so precious....worrying about the 'dearly departed ' being lonely. (Hug)

I'm among those who would consider a next door cemetery a plus. When I was little, my father would take me and my three siblings on long walks or bike rides through the big, beautiful old cemetery not too far from our home. It was a wonderful property and I have lots of great memories of my times spent there.

It wouldn't bother me one bit. But, then again, I've actually "toured" through several while on vacation. Have seen many insteresting cemeteries in Switzerland, Norway, and even Alaska! They are usually quite scenic.

I'm another one who would prefer it. I'd love the idea of no one ever building behind me. I love living on the bayou, but I am always afraid someone will buy the land directly across from me and that would be the end of my privacy.

It wouldn't bother me at all to buy/live in that house. In California, there are strict real estate disclosure laws. The sellers are obligated by law to disclose anything that could be considered a negative -- such as a neighbor's barking dog, a death in the house, poor insulation, neighbors with screaming kids, etc. There are a LOT of things that are a LOT worse than living near a quiet, beautifully maintained cemetery.

So, if being near a cemetery is the "worst" thing about the house/property, your boyfriend should go for it.

unlike so ca, we have "pocket" cemeteries thru out our "town" and most are surrounded by homes..(se mi) most are very old (as far back as early 1700) and no traffic...any real estate agent can do a study and find out how often the home has sold... if the price is right and it passes a home inspection (a must) than go for it...

I used to live close enough to a cemetary that I could lean off my porch and touch a headstone LOL. In fact, I had a broken marble headstone on a stand that I used for my coffee table (no, it was not "used" lol. It was one that was for sale, but broke before it was carved and the stone mason gave it to the previous tenant of the house).

I was only renting. It was an older cemetary, never any new burials while I lived there and hardly any visitors. Most of those were people who liked looking at old stones, rather than relatives of those interred. There was a stone bench under a chestnut tree where I used to sit and read sometimes.

Dances.

Edited

This post was edited by chi83 on Tue, Jul 16, 13 at 14:34

Wouldn't bother me, with the minor proviso about resale value, but that doesn't seem major.

Those who've suffered through noisy neighbours would be pleased to have ones who were neither noisy - nor nosey.

ole joyful

I would consider a neighboring cemetery as an advantage, unless, of course, as someone said above "I could reach out and touch a headstone." That might be a BIT too close. Otherwise, I'd go for it!

In fact, our house is about 300 yards from TWO cemeteries. They are so peaceful and well-kept. One is the Old City Cemetery, and graves of some of the original settlers of our town are buried there. It's interesting to see the graves of people who have the same last name as some of the streets in our town!

I like cemeteries.

Colleenoz, I noticed that too! The cemetery on a dead-end road! :)

My first apartment had a cemetery right behind it. There were headstones almost touching my fence but it was never a problem for me. It was full of hills, green grass, and beautiful headstones. I took the apartment the day I looked at it because it was so quiet. I had a deck off of my kitchen that overlooked the grounds and I would drink my coffee out there in the morning. Only 2 times in 2 years was I ever "stuck" in my driveway due to a procession. I wish I never moved.

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about traffic. Is this road the access road for the cemetary? If not, then I don't see the problem.

For every one prospective buyer who might shy away, there'll be three who will see the benefits. The "residents" should be very good neighbors. No loud parties or music to worry about. :)

I'm with ellendi on this one, no!

for me hell no LOL but considering the market there and living situation for this site I can see how people would be ok with it. I grew up with my grandparents running a family funeral home down the street from our house but somehow a cemetery bothers me... If it doesn't bother him it sounds like it's a great location ~ liz

Seeing as how one day my permanent residence will be IN one, I don't see that it would be a problem to live by one.

Asking your own realtor for resale info might not get you an honest answer, as your realtor stands to make money on you purchasing. Ask other realtors uninvolved in the sale.

Hi Chi,

I am in the exact dilemma that you were in years ago, I came across this article through a search. I would appreciate if you can share your experience? Did you go for the home in the end? how are you liking it living in the home and general neighborhood experience. I am so confused because the home we are looking at is also private with trees and by a maintenance road which connects to the memorial park. Everything is good about the home except the proximity to the cemetery and my husband is also concerned about the resale value. This is located in the bay area and the home prices here are kind of crazy so this kind of leaves us with some room for negotiation. Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

I'd consider the cemetery a "plus", like living near a park or golf course. Not likely to be bull-dozed and turned into a Walmart, NIce view, the deceased won't bother you with their noisy dogs or putting up eyesores. i say Go For it.

I wouldn't worry about values as much either, as the bay area always seems to have a good demand on supply

I would personally consider it a huge negative. I don't care how manicured and peaceful the grounds are. When I am dead, I will want to be with the dead. When I am alive, I want to be with the living!

Additionally, no matter what a realtor tells you, it is always going to be a negative to a certain set of people.

Well the neighbors would be quiet especially at night. I know my cousin lived near a cemetery at one time and they loved it. It was a small cemetery and they really didn't get a lot of visitors.

Hi Spreddy, we did end up putting an offer on the house which was accepted, but the inspection showed some things that we weren't comfortable with so we went with a different house. But the cemetery wasn't a deciding factor for us, and there were multiple offers for the property so they sold it easily.

Hahaha, I read the initial post and got confused. I know Chi is married, so wondered why she said that she would live with her boyfriend at some point. Then I saw that this thread is a couple of years old.

We've got a gorgeous cemetery just down the highway with a tall fountain, weeping willow trees etc. People actually picnic there. I'd love to be in proximity to it.

Mark, first rule in RE, there is no such thing as the perfect house. There is always going to be "something" about each and every house that a certain set of people aren't going to like, that's the challenge of buying and selling.

We have a forgotten Indian burial ground on one acre of our land. It is mentioned in our abstract. It bothered me at first but it's no big deal any more.

True, but somethings are more noxious then others. For me personally, a constant reminder of death is not something I want around my family. I want to focus on the glory of life.

Plus, I would be conscious as to how it would make family and visited feel.

Mark you make it sound as if the house was perched right on the cemetery. This particular one was down the road from one.

It wouldn't bother me (or my family) in the least if I live beside or across from one. I'd rather live next door to a cemetery than a school, and a lot of houses are built around schools.

I lived next to a cemetery for much of my life. I suppose there are ookey ones, especially since cemeteries can make their own fog the way golf courses do, but the only disturbances we had were from the workers, not any of the dead or grieving. Well, sometimes the wildlife that wandered in and couldn't wander out. Seeing an obviously urban worker trying to move a large Suffolk ewe who had wandered nearly to our fence (half a mile from the gate, at least) was hysterical. I went out to tell him how to lead a sheep but before I could do so animal control arrived. We used to see horned owls and big white owls, ravens, phoebes, some kind of blue jay looking bird that is blue but not a jay, and all kinds of smaller birds. If you're not used to country, that would be the biggest downfall: There are moles, voles, field mice and rats, and other such critters living in cemeteries. If you move there, you'll want an outdoor cat or two.

Well to each there own. Living near a cemetery would not be my cup of tea.

Well, I grew up on a farm that had a family cemetery, the farm is gone. The cemetery is still there. It is the only place I visit when I go back. We always felt very comfortable there. Very peaceful. Wouldn't think twice about living next to one.

Good for you.

I try to stay away from old threads that get bumped, but this one lured me in. I'm with Mark. I wouldn't live near a cemetery, or in a neighborhood/area for which the normal access route for me and for my guests required driving past one.

A cemetery is not a park or a golf course. It's a cemetery. I have a lot of stiffs in my neighborhood, as most people do, but the ones still here are at least still moving around. For me, it's not superstition, nor concern, nor a weak stomach - it's just that it's negative ambiance. Negative energy. Areas have positive and negative features - other than something like a noisy or smelly commercial operation next door, having a cemetery is right up there on the list of potential negatives for me. It's also bad feng shui.

The home's back to the cemetery but it's in such a way that you couldn't tell, there is a by way road like a maintenance road which connects to the cemetery so you don't see it entering or exiting the community. The other thing is it's a huge memorial park, lush green and landscaped, not the creepy looking cemeteries. Apparently, an expensive one! The other thing is the community itself is close to the downtown about 4 miles and yet has the suburb feel to it. It's not anything cheap since everything is kind of ridiculously expensive in the Bay Area but due to summer and it being back to the cemetery it's just a little longer on the market as per our agent. It's expected to go soon enough so I need to think if it's a smart investment considering I will be living here 6 years at the minimum. The current owner landscaped the patio quite well and the builder had all these parameters in mind, so it's surrounded by tall trees and fencing so unless you climb the wall, you couldn't see the cemetery that easily. I only found out after I got home and looked up in the maps that it actually backs to this park. I appreciate you all sharing your feedback.

I would love having a beautiful, landscaped QUIET "park" next to my back yard. No worries about a development or a MacMansion potentially looming over my yard. Very little traffic, etc. It would especially appeal to me if the grounds are gated and locked at night to dissuade vandals or anyone else from being in there at night.

There are no negative vibes in the cemeteries I've been to, and certainly not the one I lived by. It's also right in the middle of very heavily travelled city streets, and you'd have to make very convoluted circuits to avoid going near it from just about anywhere in that part of town to any other.

Spreddy, think of it this way: the cemetery won't be any greater an obstacle when you go to sell than it has been as you're buying. As others have said, schools can be uncomfortable to live by. Fire stations are loud at all hours. Churches ring bells. There are all kinds of "good" things that can lower your pool of buyers and maybe price. Some people love to see a bunch of bikes in driveways denoting a young family neighborhood, others think it's ugly or don't want to be around all those kids. Offer what you think is a fair price considering that this is an equal nuisance to any non-house neighbor (though far quieter unless they're having a lot of New Orleans style corteges and second lines), and you won't lose on the selling end.

And if you go for it, get a cat.

I've never felt "negative vibes" in a cemetery- though I have in other places. Spent three years living in a house that had terrible vibes (and two house fires in a town where I can only think of two other house fires in the past 30 years) that was nowhere near a cemetery. Some of my happiest times as a teenager were spent in cemeteries- I like to read the gravestones and try to work out who was related to whom, and if people died at the same time was there an epidemic? and stuff like that. I'd live next to a cemetery in a heartbeat if the house was what I was looking for.

I've always felt that ghosts wouldn't bother hanging around a cemetery, they'd go to someplace that was familiar in life.

Around here many older rural properties have old family cemeteries on the property. The law in our state is such that relatives of those buried in a family cemetery have the right to access the cemetery forever. One property we looked at had a small cemetery right across and behind the garage/barn from the main house. That was one of several reasons why I didn't want to purchase the place.

This thread reminds me of the grave photo thread. I wouldn't mind living next to a cemetary either and would also prefer that as opposed to say a school or other houses. Actually the older the better too, lots of interesting history to discover and maybe even some pictures to contribute. LOL

You would rather be reminded of death then enjoy the antics of young children as they learn and play?

IME (and I work in a school), it isn't always playful antics, it's often loud disputes over toys and territory, who likes and doesn't like who today and just general yelling because it's fun at that age. Cemeteries don't remind me of death (in the first instance), they make me think of the people who lived before me and what their lives would have been like.

Mark, a cemetery doesn't remind me of death. You make a schoolyard sound like Ann of Green Gables or Sound of Music, Hahhaaa

Jasdip....:0) They bury dead people in cemeteries. Now do they remind you of death? :0)

Cemeteries aren't creepy and negative to me. They're peaceful. Still better than schools.

To each there own. I'll take the school over a cemetery everyday and twice on Sunday.

Their

My guess is that people who have difficulty with the concept of death would have difficulty with being reminded of it daily by living near a cemetery. I am not in that group.

One of the major cemeteries in Los Angeles is known for the beauty of its park and chapels. People have weddings there all the time.

"My guess is that people who have difficulty with the concept of death
would have difficulty with being reminded of it daily by living near a
cemetery. "

That may be, though maybe not. Like you, I'm not in that group, but I still wouldn't live too near a cemetery if I had a choice.

As for weddings at cemeteries, anything is possible in LA (Forest Lawn). I'd say that approach is reserved for people who didn't have enough time to think through the choices.

I would never shy away from a property solely based on the fact that I knew decomposing bodies were in the vicinity.

Given the fact that we all live in areas which have seen a human inhabitance for likely thousands of years, its almost a sure bet that someone, somewhere, at sometime was buried on or near our property.

I'm not freaked out about it; there is no such thing as "ghosts", "negative energy" etc.

It is a natural part of the life cycle and I, personally, don't ascribe to alternative spiritual theories of energy, spirits, etc.

If they existed, science would have proven them by now.

Thanks for all your responses. As I said, you really have to put effort to see the cemetery or tomb stones. The community has a huge fencing and a big drop outside the fencing wall before it touches the cemetery. They have tall pine trees all over so the builder made sure it's not visible that easily but then again properties at a distance can maybe spot the head stones from their windows. Since this is back to the cemetery, at the border, because of all the trees you couldn't tell much. I am mostly concerned about the resale value, otherwise the property by Bay Area standards is pretty good.

I mentioned it before but in case you missed it, proximity to a cemetery is bad feng shui. You can be sure that no ethnic Chinese family would consider a house so located, and I wonder if ethnic Indians would either.

It's not immediately visible? No matter, those who care check out neighborhoods using Google maps and satellite pictures.

Depending on where you are in the Bay Area, the preceding comments may matter a lot or not at all for resale.

Stairs opening out right in front of the door--a common American building style--is bad feng shui. 4's in the house number (or zip code or area code) signify death and are unlucky. Feng shui is part of a highly developed and precise religion that is about balance with the natural world. By and large there are mitigations for poor feng shui and if you're concerned about being able to resell to adherents, you can hire a master to check out the space and explain what might need to be done. Landscaping (possibly what the house already has) can provide a lot of resolution.

Really, though, can't your agent find out whether they're having trouble selling the house because of the cemetery? Not the price, location vis-a-vis transporation, schools, shops, crime, etc. Not because of the size or condition. Not the price, which is king. Ask your agent if there's any trouble selling houses near cemeteries and how much less they command. But, again, this kind of thing doesn't change much, so the differences in 6-10 years shouldn't be much different than they are now. The exception is if there's a current bubble in your neighborhood that might burst. When there isn't much "inventory" the prices for "problem" houses go up because people become grateful to find any house.

Well nicole, I'm so glad to hear they bury dead people in cemeteries; it would be a problem if they buried live ones.

Considering some neighbors that I have had, I think a cemetery would be a bonus--no noise, no lights left on 24 hours a day, no barking dogs, no untended vegetation. I also like the quiet peace of reading epitaphs and working out the stories of those who live no more.

I grew up in a house that had a small, very old, unattended, cemetery on the hill across the road. It was a lovely, shady, spot--trees had grown between the graves, and we often hiked up and played there as children. My grandfather knew the stories of some of the hand-hewn grave stones, which were of his parents' and grandparents' contemporaries (1800's), but no family members. One grave was of a stranger who was passing through and was killed in a fight, but never identified.

After I grew up the land was purchased by someone not local to the area, who built a house behind the hill. We found out later that he had destroyed the grave stones--his explanation was that his wife wouldn't live in the house they were building if she knew about the cemetery. They're divorced now ... maybe she found out despite his vandalism and disregard for history.

Regards to living next to a school, I think it depends on age, family situation and the school. We used to live behind our elementary school growing up and could hear the sounds I'm sure Mark is referring to. At the time my parents loved it and always talked about how great it was to hear. But like everything it eventually becomes a been there done that situation. What I've experienced is that once the kids are grown and the work is done, a lot of folks are ready for some peace, and it's no longer the most appealing of noises. I know for sure I would never want to live by a middle school or high school as well. I will take the sounds of birds, trees blowing in the breezes and the smell of fresh cut grass found in a cemetery any day.

I also have to agree that it doesn't remind me of death either. Besides, the idea of giving the dead a chance for some quiet neighbors is probably appreciated by them and their visiting families as well. :c)

Yes, none of those things are present. There are Just thousands of corpses located right outside your front door.

Well, in the grand scheme of things, considering the age of the earth, any and every place probably has that qualification.

Where's the Big Billy Goat Gruff when you need him?

I just think it's kind of funny how if you tell someone that you've seen a ghost, they would likely tell you that you were just seeing things and that there is no such things as ghosts but yet so many people are acting like they'd have ghosts if they lived near a cemetery. So which is it, ghosts are real or ghosts are make believe?

It's not the ghosts or not ghosts for me. The cemetery in my small town has a gun shooting range behind it. The police and locals practice there. It backs against open space and has a hiking/biking/running trail behind it too. I tried biking the trail and thought it was scary.....because of the gun fire! So.....no....I would NOT own a home next to the cemetery in MY town! :0)

There are other businesses that present a problem too...

I knew a woman that purchased an old 1800's home next to a Dominos Pizza. She said it smelled like pizza aaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the time and she couldn't stand to live there! She said her furniture smelled like pizza, her clothes smelled like pizza....

Whether I would buy it, which a cemetery wouldn't stop me, it's a moot point. I don't buy a house to consider resale later on. His concern is resale and yes, it will likely be affected by the cemetery. Now the question he has to consider is whether he's getting a deal on it such that he can sell it down the road to his satisfaction. And NEVER take a real estate agent's word for ANYTHING!

I love cemeteries and have visited many (including two particularly interesting ones, one in Edinburgh, Scotland and the other near Oranjestad, Aruba).

Never have I felt any negative vibes EXCEPT at one. It was at a small country cemetery not far from where I live; I felt the vibes when I approached the grave of a young local woman, whom I kind-of knew, who was murdered when she was simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. (I did not know she was buried there until the instant I read her name on the headstone.) The vibes were almost tangible, real and black. Fury and rage, I think. I hightailed it out of there. And it wasn't a dark or cloudy or dreary day, either - it was a bright, warm sunshiny summer day.

Other than that one time, all the cemeteries in my experience have been peaceful places, filled with nature sights and sounds, opportunities for reflection on the meaning of life, and curiosity about and appreciation for those who have passed before us.

Yes, I've visited dozens of cemeteries - throughout the Normandy landing beach area, the WW 1 cemeteries in Northern France and in Belgium, Pere Lachaise in Paris (fabulously interesting for who's there, ranging from Moliere, Delacroix, Rossini of the 19th century to Jim Morrison of the Doors). Cemeteries at concentration camps in Germany and Austria. etc etc. A large VA cemetery near my university, i passed it a few times a week.

"Negative energy"? It's nothing supernatural or spiritual. I'm not superstitious at all, never have been. Maybe we're not sharing the same definitions. To me, that's something that triggers sadness, or disgust, or unhappy feelings, or anger. Cemeteries aren't happy places, they're not upbeat or uplifting.

Some of you are being way too literal. From a home appreciation and resale value, you won't convince me it isn't a negative factor and especially so in my multicultural area. If you want to live next to a mortuary or cemetery, please go ahead. Me, I'm a happy person, I much prefer happier places.

I'd have no problem buying a home near a cemetery. But I do agree that it could easily be perceived as a negative for resale.

Though my body has a track record of having spoiled me ...

... at my age, I can expect to be in one of them soon, quite possibly.

What do you figure might be the chances of getting a meeting of some of the resident spirits, for a discussion of, with a view to possible action, toward being selective about the neighbours considering moving into nearby housing ... wouldn't want the neighbourhood to go downhill, now, would we?

ole joyfulelled ... just came from a meeting, with son and daughter, of the doc dealing with the prostate cancer: good three-month report

P.S. I have no compuncion/concern about living near a cemetery ... actually, I just remembered that the farm where I grew up was a quarter of a mile from a small cemetery, where some of our forebears were buried. We walked by it every day on our way to and from elementary school, sometimes went in to look around.

o j

It is bad Feng Shui.

Do you live in an area with a large population that actually believes in feng shui? If so, it could hurt resale, if not, I don't think it will matter.

I lived next to one for six years, peaceful no wild parties!

Chi - did you end up buying the house? I find myself in a similar situation to yours from almost 5 years ago now and this thread has been quite useful so far. Curious to know what decision you made.

Oh wow, this is an old thread! We put an offer on the house but the inspection revealed a lot of negatives so we withdrew from that house and picked another. They had a second/backup offer so the cemetery didn't seem to be a negative.

My daughter's house backs up to a national cemetery - a VERY small national cemetery, in which a long-ago KY native President is buried. The entire neighborhood was once part of his family farm, Springfield. The family home (now privately owned) is around the corner from DD's house. The cemetery is surrounded on three sides by houses, and on the 4th by a busy road. On all sides, there is a beautiful old stone wall that is about 4 1/2 ft tall and 2 ft thick. What a gift! A wall like that would cost a fortune today!

In a national cemetery, all the headstones are the same simple marble markers. To see rows and rows of these, is very lovely and very moving.

My grandsons have always played in the cemetery, climbing over the wall. When they were little, my daughter had Easter egg hunts there. She asked me if I thought it was disrespectful, and I said if I were buried there, I could think of nothing lovelier than happy children, gleefully hunting eggs on Easter.

None of the houses surrounding this small cemetery have ever been hard to sell. Most people adore the stone wall, and like the quiet as well. Kind of nice to not have noisy neighbors behind one!

Its not an issue in my town. I live between 2 cemeteries, but I should qualify this. Both are historic cemeteries created when the town was established. One cemetery is very small and two doors north of my house. The second one is one block south and is more prominent. It is attached to the town's historic St. Albans chapel. This chapel is patterned after the one in England that was in the home area of our town founder. I have been here for 40 yrs and there has been only one burial in the little cemetery north of me. These cemeteries seem not to have any effect on property values as they are fully accepted as being part of the original town.

Same as having a house anywhere else.

Wouldn't have an opportunity to have a bunch of noisy, problematic, bothersome neighbours.

(And not a long move when one's own termination date arrived).

ole joyfuelled (who's never owned a home)

I have to wait for a bus right outside a historic cemetery. I must admit at times especially at night it can be somewhat depressing.