Around Halloween many people think of the paranormal- ghosts, haunted houses, cemeteries and such. I thought I would write about a few experiences I have had or know of in Texas. In my Central Texas Real Estate practice, I sell historic homes and love them. Only once, have I ever felt real strongly that there was an “entity” in a historic home that did not want me there. The home was really large, on acreage, and had two stories. My client and I were in the habit of looking around kind of slowly to truly take in all a home had to offer. Then, if there was an attic, my client always went up there because there are so many things one can ascertain about a home up there. In the attic you can see the wiring, if there have been roof leaks, the insulation, etc. It is just a good place to look for additional information about a home.
On this occasion, we were on the second floor of the home. I thought I heard something so I went over to the second floor screened porch to see if another car had arrived. There was no car. I thought, hmmm, that’s odd but gave it no more thought. I followed my client out of the master suite area and by the stairs to the attic. I asked him if he were going up but he said he just did not feel well. Right at that moment and spot I had to say, “I don’t feel well either”, as I suddenly felt nauseous and every hair on my body was standing on end! We were both standing at the base of the stairs. My client said, yes, this is not the house for me. I knew why. In that moment, we decided to leave. After quickly getting the lights off and locking up we left, never to go back. My husband, a friend who is paranormal investigator, and others wanted to go after hearing my story. I said, no. I had made a “promise” that if it left us alone we would not bother it. I just felt it did not want us there.
Other Things Paranormal and Georgetown’s Spookiest
One of my friends is a Paranormal Investigator. I have introduced her to clients who feel there is “some thing” there, so to speak, at their home or property. One of my past clients says things actually move in the small home she built on part of her acreage. I personally have never seen this or “felt” anything when there. My friend went out to her place and feels that there are over 80 entities there! I have also gone on a “field trip” with my Paranormal Investigator friend to a cemetery said to have spirits. We went on a group investigation at the Odd Fellows Cemetery “IOOF” in Georgetown Texas where “Orange Socks” is buried. “Orange Socks” or Judy Doe was murdered October 31st 1979 in Georgetown Texas and found dead on the side of IH-35 in a culvert. Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder but it is unclear if he really killed her. Henry Lee Lucas was held at the old Georgetown jail in Georgetown,Texas. That alone would make the Haunted Jail Tour they hold every year there scary! Nightmare on Jail Hill is held at the old 1889 Williamson County Jail in Georgetown Texas at 312 Main Street which has been featured on the Ghost Hunters TV show.
Homes With MURDER In Their Past
One time, early in my Real Estate career, I sold a double homicide house. I sold it at an Open House to the first people who came to see it. The fact that there had been a double homicide there did not bother them at all. My former broker has sold the notorious home on Toro Canyon in Westlake where the murder of Steven Beard occurred on October 2nd, 1999. Is a REALTOR® required to disclose if a house is haunted? Is a REALTOR® required to disclose if a house has had a murder take place in it? YES What about a suicide?
Cleansing or Clearing A Home or other Building
What can you do if your home just does not feel right? Some people like to “sage” a house, burning herbs whose smoke “cleanses” or “purifies” the home, clearing the space of negative energy or “darkness”. Saging or sage smudging is an old tradition or ritual of Native Americans and shamanic cultures And no, I have never been involved or known of an exorcism of a home! BUT The Exorcist movie did scare me to death!
Would You Buy an Acreage Property with a Cemetery On It?
Sometimes an acreage property may have a small, private cemetery on the land. Though this would not bother me, there may be some who would not purchase the property for this reason. Texas allows family members to visit family cemeteries on private land during reasonable hours. I do have one ancestor, Valentine Hoch, who is buried on (now) private land. I have only visited his grave once because of that. Actually, I have some distant Dauer family ancestors buried in a small cemetery in a KB home community in New Braunfels TX off of 46. They put a black cyclone fence around the small cemetery in the neighborhood.