This Amazing Chinese Mansion Is Abandoned Because It's Haunted!

This expansive stone mansion—known Chaonei No. 81—is an architectural anomaly in Beijing. Once a church, then a home, today the building stands out for its ornate Baroque style, yet it lies in decay. Why? Because it's probably haunted, and no one wants to go near it.

The New York Times has the scary story of a place cloaked in legend and deep disrepair. Built around 1900 as a gift to British colonists, by the end of the civil war in 1949 the manse was home to a high-ranking nationalist official. As the communists were marching through the city to declare victory, he fled to Taiwan leaving behind his wife (or maybe concubine), who, in despair, hung herself from the rafters of the opulent mansion.

Chaonei No. 81 has been riddled by rumors of paranormal activity ever since, and with the exception of local daredevils who have snuck in to photograph it, the place is repellent to nearly everyone who encounters it. In fact, members of the Red Army who took up residence there during the Cultural Revolution fled, and locals still won't set foot inside. According to one ghost forum, the government tried to raze the place some years back, but halted the project after some construction workers mysteriously disappeared.

Perhaps in an admission of defeat, the home is now listed on the historic register, so it can't be demolished. But nothing is being done to preserve it, either. Money isn't the problem here—there's new construction going up all over Beijing. Again, the problem is obviously local ghost lore:


It has led some to suspect that the derelict state of the home has more to do with ghosts, or at least the belief in ghosts, than with costs. Potential tenants might be shunning the home, some say, because of a tendency among many Chinese to avoid all things related to death. The superstition is so pervasive in Chinese culture that mobile numbers or apartments with addresses that contain the number 4 are often automatically devalued, since the word for four in Chinese sounds like the word for death.

The only signs of recent life at the house? Graffiti, which warns people to stay the hell away, and beer bottles from the (clearly drunk) people brave enough to sneak in. But according to one film website, there's currently a horror movie being made about the house—which is bound to complete its transformation from local to international legend.

7 Celebs Who Survived Living in Real Haunted Houses!

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... if you're more into disembodied, vengeful spirits and ghoulish apparitions than snowmen and jingle bells, that is. Yup, Halloween season is officially upon us, and what with celeb exorcisms making headlines (not to mention teen girl exorcisms), we think it makes perfect sense to turn the spotlight on a small but significant portion of the rich & famous: Celebs who live (or have lived) in haunted houses. That's right, even Hollywood types get the bejeezus scared out of them from time to time, and some of their stories are freaky enough to merit silver screen reenactments -- except, of course, the last thing any of these already-spooked sorts probably want to do is simulate the horrors endured at home.

But that's okay, cause we're here to dish on all the gory details for you! Check out the truly twisted tales of these 7 celebs who lived in seriously haunted houses.

1. Nicolas Cage

It should come as a surprise to approximately no one that Nicolas Cage not only tops our list of celebs who lived in haunted houses, but that he bought a haunted house ON PURPOSE. And not just any haunted house, one of the most notoriously haunted houses ever, New Orleans' LaLaurie Mansion (owned by a socialite in the 1830s who was notorious for abusing her servants). "It's allegedly the most severely haunted house in the United States of America ... that's what they tell me," said Cage. So haunted, in fact, that Cage reportedly never even slept in the house before selling it in 2009.

2. Keanu Reeves

We know what you're thinking -- Keanu Reeves?? Ted "Theodore" Logan? What kind of ghost would want to haunt such a mellow dude? Apparently one in a double-breasted suit with no legs, cause that's what appeared to a 5-year-old Keanu and his sister. EEEK!

3. Matthew McConaughey

Again: Who'd want to haunt that mellow dude's house? Well, a female spirit named "Madame Blue" who likes to make "noises that sounded like a dime getting dropped about ten feet." According to Matthew, once he started walking around the place naked all the time carrying a baseball bat, he and his ghoulfriend started getting along. (Ya think??)

4. Loretta Lynn

Remember what we were saying about burial grounds? Just ask Loretta Lynn -- the country crooner had the misfortune of buying a home with 19 Confederate soldiers buried on the grounds, plus slaves from an old "slave pit" and an unearthly "woman in white" (probably the least horrifying of the bunch!).

5. Adele

Yeah, well, that's what you get when you buy a 10-bedroom former convent to live in, Adele: Lots of scary bump-in-the-night noises, to the point where she paid female bodyguards to sleep there with her! (As if a bodyguard could really protect her from a dead nun. Good luck with that!)

6. Anne Rice

Sure, even less surprising than Nic Cage -- and also in New Orleans -- but still worth noting, because the author who made vampires cool long before the Cullens once lived in the Brevard House, famous for a creepy mist that would rise on the porch where the original owner shot himself. (Rice made the house the setting for her novel "The Witching Hour.")

7. Alyson Hannigan

We wouldn't have pegged the How I Met Your Mother star as a spook-enthusiast either, but Hannigan says a ghost shares the home she lives in with her husband and daughter, and he once appeared in the bathroom window. Cheeky!

Have you ever lived in a haunted house?

What to do about Poltergeist!

Poltergeist phenomena involve things moving by themselves, sounds such as knocking or rapping, or inexplicable behaviour or malfunction of electrical or electronic devices, as well as other types of mysterious phenomena.


When the phenomena happens at various locations but always in the presence of one particular person, it is usually the person causing the phenomenon unconsciously through psychokinesis (unconscious PK). In this case, there may be something causing the person to be emotionally upset that is causing them to produce the phenomenon. If you can figure out what is causing the emotional problem and eliminate it, the phenomenon may stop.


A well known example of unconscious PK producing poltergeist phenomena is the Tropican Arts poltergeist case in Miami, Florida. If you or someone you know is experiencing unconscious PK.


Unconscious PK is sometimes called the Pauli Effect because the Nobel prize winning physicist Wolfgang Pauli was known to wreck lab equipment just by walking through the laboratory door.


When poltergeist phenomenon happens in only one location and does not depend on the presence of any particular individual, it is probably caused by a spirit. If you can encourage the spirit to complete its transition to the spirit world the phenomena may stop.

Famous Ghost Hoaxes

Some ghost stories are believed to be true until they are officially debunked. Watch this About.com video to learn how famous ghost hoaxes were finally revealed.

Everyone loves a good ghostly image, but if it’s a work of trickery, not of the hereafter, then let’s say so.  Hello. I'm Thea Lewis of Queen City Ghostwalk for About.com, and today I'm going to tell you about famous ghost hoaxes. 

Ghost Legends Debunked

Of the great volume of vaporous images pored over every year by apparition aficionados, three of the most famous have blessedly been debunked. The notorious Wem ghost, an image of a little girl surrounded by flame, was, sadly, no more than a clever fake.

Experts conclude the Amityville Ghost is likely a member of a paranormal team who investigated the famous home. The ghost of Jim Morrison turned out to be nothing more than a projected image, engineered by someone intent on creating a publicity stunt.  

Ghost Hoaxes Used for Press Coverage

When you want a high-end ghost hoax, sometimes money is no object. The "Raffles Place Ghost", a video that shows two men being followed out of an elevator by the apparition of an old woman cost the HR and Consulting firm that commissioned it $100,000 to make. Then it went viral, causing something else to materialize: Millions in free PR.

Watch the About.com video here

Switzerland's Answer To The Loch Ness Monster

A SINISTER figure has reportedly been caught on camera lurking in the woods in western Switzerland.

Dressed in a military uniform with a gas mask covering his face, the figure, known as 'Le Loyon', is said to have been haunting the woods for the past decade. He apparently walks the same route every day.

However, there was no evidence of his existence until local news website Le Matin published the first known photograph of the mystery man last month, and now police are trying to track him down. But is it for real?

"I came across him near the marches," an unnamed amateur photographer who tracked him down told Le Matin. "I approached him up to a dozen metres away.

"He had a military cape, boots and an army gas mark - an antique type, I think. He measured more than 1.9m. He stared at me then turned his back on me and left in silence."

Other locals have also told of their frightening encounters with the man.

"It scared my children," a woman said. "He came out of the woods with his military clothes. We saw neither his face nor his eyes behind his big dark gas mask. It was scary and I know women who are venturing alone in the forest."

Another local resident, Marianne Descloux of Maules, said she also saw him: "It was a rainy Sunday. He had on a cap, a dark cloak and gas mask. What goes on in his head? I don't know. It was unpleasant. I hope I never run into him again."

The figure was also reportedly spotted clutching what appeared to be a bunch of flowers.

"Families simply won't go into the forest any more," a farmer said.

Police want to speak to Le Loyon to ask him to be less threatening, although he's shown no signs of aggressive behaviour.

Such is the hysteria, that he has been called 'Switzerland's answer to the Loch Ness monster'.

"The situation is delicate because we basically have nothing against this person," Guy Savary, the municipal official in charge of forests, said.

"But since he arouses these fears, we are going to hold meeting to see if we can find a way of locating him, and discouraging him from behaving as he does."

Some believe he could be suffering from a nasty skin condition, is mentally ill or a hermit.

So what do you think, is it a hoax?

Ryan Buell. The man, The Fight & The Paranormal

Ryan Buell never intended to be in front of a camera. “It was the last thing on my mind.”, he says.

Anyone who has seen the ground breaking show “Paranormal State” knows that Ryan experienced very frightening paranormal activity as a child. To this day, Ryan has never given out the full details of what happened to him. He has revealed what is he felt was appropriate at different times. Becauase of the activity and the fear it caused him, he became interested in finding the answers to what he had been through. What was it? He studied the paranormal as much as he could. When he went to college he formed a paranormal research team called the Paranormal Research Society, PRS. Because of his own experience, Ryan was sympathetic to the things that clients reported. PRS took on cases where help was needed with what appeared to be paranormal or even demonic activity. PRS began as a group of students on campus with a thirst for the truth and the determination to help those needed it. Ryan was approached to bring PRS to television, but that decision took 3-4 years to make. Paranormal State went on to become one of the most popular television shows in the paranormal genre. The show ended production in 2011, having filmed 83 episodes. The show remains a favourite of many in reruns today.

All the while Ryan was in school and after graduation, he continued to search for answers to the questions of the paranormal. With Bachelor degrees on journalism and anthropology from Penn State University, he served as Co-Executive Producer for “Paranormal State” and for “The Ghost Prophecies”, of which he is also the co-creator. He directed episodes of Paranormal State and was also the Executive Producer of the feature film American Ghost Hunter, which was released in 2010. Ryan wrote and published his memoir, “Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown” that year. In his book, he revealed to the world that he was bi-sexual and talked openly about his struggle to reconcile his sexual orientation with his Catholic faith.

In 2012, at the age of 30, the busy world of Ryan Buell came to a stop when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Such a diagnosis would cause many to stop what they are doing and prepare for the worst. Even worse, at an age where most people are just beginning to figure out what they want to do in life, here was a terrifying diagnosis. In Ryan’s case, it slowed him down, but he has not stopped moving forward. After taking time to seek treatment for his illness, Ryan is making plans for the future. And that future looks amazing.

Ryan had not done a paranormal radio show interview for over a year since he announced his illness. He talked to Anthony Agate and Luci Leibfried on the Blogtalk radio show Paranormal Review Radio in an exclusive interview on September 6th, 2013. “I was actually extraordinarily nervous about doing this interview.” After being reminded he has done a lot of interviews. “Things are different, I've become a hermit. I really have not been involved in much at all.” Ryan admits he has been doing some soul searching. “When I was investigating the paranormal, we were trying to answer questions about what happens to us when we die, but now here I was and still am, now making peace with the fact that I may very well die.” “When it first happened, we didn't know if I was going to live past 6 months. I was very sick. A lot of what I had to go through was, trying to make peace with death. And of course this happened right as I was at the end of my twenties. We all have one guarantee in life, we die, but no one really expects it and this, in a lot of ways is a slow on. It’s a slow death. You battle and fight as hard as you can and if you’re lucky you make it out and some, they do. Granted there is no defeat in death, but a lot of the battle is psychological. I’m able to do things now that I haven’t been able to do for a while.”

Ryan admits that he is becomes tired easily now. He is making improvement, but he says “Anyone who knows me, knows, that is not me.” He has good days and bad. He knows it may be years before anyone knows how much he can improve. Ryan was angry for a while, but says “Of course it has affected my life. After a while you start to look at it, I can’t control what happened, but I can be thankful for what I am doing now.”

So what is this amazing human being planning? A return to television among other things. Fans of Paranormal State will be happy to know that the show will be returning. Some of the team will return, but expect to see some new faces. Ryan shared his thoughts on who he is, what his life's work is and where he wants to go in the future, during the interview. Throughout his journey, he states that he has felt lonely, feeling like he had to hold it all in. He talks about his detractors, but admits by being public, they will always be there.

In spite of the cards he has been dealt, Ryan Buell is and a shining example of determination and courage in a world where heroes are hard to come by. Illness is my have slowed him down, but he certainly is not going to stop doing what he loves. He shows no signs of giving into his illness. And that is a beautiful thing to see.

To see what Ryan is planning and to get updates on his progress, you can go to ....

ParanromalResearchSociety.org

 

and you can hear the full interview with Paranormal Review Radio on.... 

Blogtalkradio.com/paranormalreview

A Paranormal State playlist will soon be available here

Playing With The Devil – Paranormal Podcast

Imagine being part of a teenage rock band that attracted the attention of a dark entity?  Marcus F. Griffin doesn’t have to imagine, he lived it and he tells us about it on this edition of The Paranormal Podcast!



Listen to the podcast by clicking here

Don’t Believe These Top 3 Myths About Haunted Houses

We all have a certain image in our mind when someone mentions haunted houses. We picture large, dilapidated homes with paint peeling and porches rotting away. We imagine there must be footsteps on the stairway and rapping from inside the walls, screeching up in the attic, and all of this takes place in the middle of the night. But the simple truth is this: Any house can be haunted, any hour of the day or night. Maybe even yours.

Hauntings In Old Homes vs. New Homes

While it’s true that hauntings seem to occur most often in older homes, it’s only because those homes have been around long enough for some type of tragedy to have occurred. And if not the house itself, then the property upon which it stands. Perhaps, long ago, the land the house now sits on was the site of a major battle. Perhaps, long ago, someone inside the home passed quietly away and left some unfinished business.

Conversely, many people just assume every old home is haunted because, if the home is 100 years old, there’s a good chance someone has died in it at some point during its existence. And if someone dies in a home, surely their spirit sticks around to haunt the place. If that were the case, given the number of old houses scattered throughout the world, the netherworld must be very crowded, indeed.

It’s quite possible for a new house to be haunted. It may have been built on the site of a tragedy. Someone who worked on constructing the house may have died from a tragic accident. Or maybe the ghost moved in, right along with the new owners, following them from their previous abode.

So never assume that only old, run-down houses are haunted and never assume you’re safe from hauntings simply because you’ve moved into a new house.

Ghosts Only Come Out At Night

It’s always nighttime when the ghosts come out to play in the horror movies, and when you watch those paranormal investigators on TV they always wait until midnight to set up their equipment. But ghosts “live” on a different plane of existence. To them, Time has no meaning and they certainly don’t punch a time clock.

If there’s a ghost in your house at midnight you can rest assured – or maybe you can’t – that he’ll be there in the morning and in the afternoon, too. During the daylight hours, though, you’re busy. You’re at work, you’re running errands, you’re cooking or cleaning or watching TV. There’s activity and noise in the house that covers up those ghostly creeks and groans so you don’t notice. You’re bustling around and you don’t notice those cold spots when you pass through them on your way to the den.

But then the lights go out and everyone settles down for the evening. That’s when you notice the chill. That’s when you hear the creak on the step. And that’s why you think you’re safe in your house during the day. Because the ghosts only come out at night, right?

Haunted Houses Can Be “Cleared”

Remember the scene in “Poltergeist” where Tangina said, “This house is cleeeeeaaan.” Well, it wasn’t, was it? The poltergeist was still there. In fact, it followed the family to their new home in the sequal.

It’s true that some ghosts just need someone to help them find their way to the next world, and if this is the type of ghost who’s haunting your home you’re lucky. Help him find his way and you’ll be rid of him forever.

However, not all ghosts want to be “sent on.” Some want to stay here forever – or at least until they’ve exacted their revenge. There is no magical formula that forces a ghost to move on, no incantation or spell, and a ghost certainly isn’t afraid of the smell of burning sage.

If you have a stubborn ghost in your house then maybe it’s time to change your address. After all, he was there first. And, like you, he’ll leave when he’s darn good and ready.

Poltergeist Curse: Fact or Urban Legend?

Steven Spielberg’s Poltergeist trilogy is arguably the scariest set of ghosty-ghoulie movies ever made, but does the terror exist just in the movies, or were the actors cursed in real life, too? Depending upon who you ask, the rumour is real. Let’s take a look at some of the facts to see if the rumour holds as much water as the swimming pool in the famous scene that is at the root of the problem.

The curse basically states that after each of the three movies, one of the child actors died an untimely death and the rest of the cast were cursed. Supposedly, one of the children was murdered, one died in a car accident and one died of a mysterious disease. It’s true that there were some unexplained or unfortunate deaths but they didn’t happen like the rumour says.

One of the main factors that brought about the curse, in theory, was the fact that in that swimming pool scene, real human cadavers were used because they were cheaper than using plastic. This part of the rumour is true.
All told, eight of the crew has died, but several of them were of an age where disease and death aren’t entirely uncommon.

Dominique Dunne

Shortly after the initial Poltergeist was released in 1983, 22-year-old Dominique Dunne was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend whom she had broken up with a few weeks prior. He attempted to choke her to death and left her for dead in the driveway. She was taken to the hospital but never recovered from the coma and died five days later. Ms Dunne had played the role of Dana Freeling.

Heather O’Rourke

The girl that played Carol Ann, the little “They’re baaa-ack” girl in front of the TV, died during the filming of the third film, near the end of production. Originally diagnosed with the flu, doctors changed that diagnosis to septic shock caused by bacterial toxins in her blood. She was 12. For the remainder of the movie, a stunt double was used and they avoided face shots.

Julian Beck

Mr. Beck played Kane in Poltergeist II The Other Side. He died of stomach cancer.

Beatrice Straight

She played Dr. Lesh in the first movie and died of pneumonia.

Will Sampson

AKA Taylor the Medicine Man in the third movie, Mr. Sampson died of post-operative kidney failure and complications derived from malnutrition.

Geraldine Fitzgeral

She played grandma Jess in the second Poltergeist movie and passed away from symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

There were other unfortunate incidents as well, but no more deaths.

Oliver Robbins

Mr. Robbins played Robbie Freeling and was nearly choked to death by the clown in the bedroom scene the clown malfunctioned during shooting and the other actors on set just thought that he was doing an amazing acting job. He nearly died before somebody noticed he was turning blue and rescued him.

There were other strange happenings during and following shooting of the movies, including:

JoBeth Williams, aka Dianne Freeling, reported that every day during shooting, she would come back to her trailer to find her pictures askew.
Zelda Rubenstein, aka the psychic Tangina reports that during shooting she felt a hard shock then when they replayed the film, there was a bright shining white light that obstructed view of her face.
The Freeling House where the movie was filmed in part was damaged in the 1994 earthquake.

These are just a few of the examples of odd happenings. As you can see, odd things did certainly happen, but whether or not they were actually related to the movie can be debated until the cows come home and a true decision will never be agreed upon. It’s probably best to just use your imagination and your head to decide for yourself.

Hair-Raising Chills As Poltergeist Runs Riot At A Brum Salon

Ghostly goings-on plague customers and staff at Nokes’z Hair in Northfield

A poltergeist is giving customers at a Birmingham salon a hair-raising experience by spooking them as they get their locks cut.Both staff and customers at Nokes’z Hair in Church Road, Northfield, have been subject to the weird goings-on over the last four years.

They have reported seeing a ghostly face staring at them in the darkness – while a spooky image has also been captured on film. John Conway, from West Midlands Ghost Club, was photographed seated at the salon, with a strange swirling mist near his face.

The catalogue of creepy incidents have stretched back to 2009, when Sarah Nokes first opened the salon. Other potential paranormal activities include:* A strange mist forming in the back of the salon, spotted by a customer;* Staff opening up in the morning to find vases and mirrors stacked up on the floor;* A dustpan and brush being thrown across the room;* Strange voices calling out – and hairdryers switching themselves on.

In other chilling incidents, a coin dating back to the 1700s mysteriously appeared on the salon doorstep – while a 5p coin was also once thrown at Sarah.Hairdresser Laura Shaw, 18, saw one apparition while closing up one night. 

She said: “We had just switched off the lights and were in darkness. Then it just appeared – a huge face of a man, made out of lights.‘‘I didn’t hang around long enough to see any features in close detail. It really shook me up and I just ran.”

Fellow worker Louise Fisher, 19, added: “We were once talking about tucking into a pack of digestive biscuits in the kitchen. Next thing you know we heard a thud – and the pack of biscuits had been thrown off the shelf onto the floor.”

Owner Sarah, 36, says she had heard rumours that a family had died in a fire in the property in the early 1900s, yet says no pesky poltergeist will force her out.
She added: “I don’t feel threatened by whoever or whatever is haunting this place. I don’t get a sense that it is malevolent, just mischievous.

‘‘Customers have experienced strange things going on here but they keep coming back.”
Nick Duffy, from West Midlands Ghost Club, is now set to carry out an investigation at the hair salon.
He added: “This is a fascinating case as there have been so many incidents witnessed by lots of different people. It sounds like the behaviour of a mischievous spirit or poltergeist.”

“Poltergeist” Being Filmed In Hamilton

Filming is about to get under way for the re-make of the classic horror movie “Poltergeist,” and it’s happening in Hamilton.

Crews were setting up the scene today on Upper Paradise. They brought in additional fencing and extra trees to get the main house ready for filming. Neighbours have agreed to let their grass grow out for the movie, and have been sworn to secrecy.

Production is set to start on September 23rd, and will last about two-and-a-half weeks. It will star Sam Rockwell and Jared Harris.

The original horror flick was released in 1982 and was produced and co-written by Steven Spielberg.

Students Living in 'Haunted' House Find Something Much Creepier Than a Ghost ....

Living in a home you believe to be haunted can be a very frightening experience, particularly when you're hearing all sorts of noises and having things happen that you simply can't explain.

When a group of 14 students at Ohio State University told friends about the strange sounds in their house and about cupboards opening by themselves -- they were pretty convinced they had a mischievous ghost on their hands.

But as it turns out, they were dealing with something much scarier than a restless spirit.

After searching the different levels of the home, they uncovered a secret room in their basement where a man had been living, unbeknownst to them. They always thought the door led to a maintenance closet, but when they opened it, they found a room with a double bed, photographs, and even school textbooks.

Check out this video clip to hear the whole story.

Um, totally weird, right? Think about it for a second -- wouldn't you be beyond creeped out if you suddenly realized you'd been sharing your home with a total stranger?

If I had to choose, I honestly think I'd rather find out that my house was legitimately haunted, because at least ghosts have a better chance of being innocent and harmless! It sounds like the poor guy just needed a place to crash, which is why he was secretly "hiding" in the basement, but what if he had turned out to be some kind of a nut job? Or a serial killer? Or a perv? (Yikes.)

But on second thought, now that they kicked him out, what if they start hearing weird sounds coming from that room again? Since they changed the locks, it's not likely that anyone of the human kind will be able to find a way back in there. 

Huh. Something tells me no matter what these dudes do, getting a good night's sleep in that house probably isn't something they should count on.

Would a secret room in your house scare you more than a ghost?

How To Investigate The History Of A Haunted Houses

Most people don’t take issue of a home having a shady past. Despite stories being passed around of how a house whose former tenant committed suicide now has the tenant’s spirit lurking in the halls or how one home’s morbid history comes to life in the forms of moving furniture and slamming doors. “I think the history of the property can help in understanding a haunting, but there aren't any guarantees,” advised Amanda Smith, Historian and Investigator for Night Whispers Paranormal Investigators. Residents might be picking up activity that is better related to a house nearby, rather than their own house.


With this in mind, Amanda commented on how exactly to go about researching property history. “This can be a somewhat frustrating process for residents,” she said. “As a Student Majoring in History at Sampson Community College, I’m not even 100% sure, and people have been referred to local libraries looking for property information. I always suggest to people- keeping in mind that the process could vary from location to location- that they go to their municipal building and speak to the ‘Registrar of Deeds.’ I think that is their best source, and if not, that person would be able to refer them to who they need to speak to.”


Trying to uncover the history of a home can be a horrendous task; one which Amanda understands can frustrate residents about their home. “Hopefully their town or municipality is cooperative- if a resident is looking for property history due to a haunting, they are more than likely anxious for answers, and the run-around will frustrate them greatly.”


“The easiest, and usually best, way to learn if a home is haunted is from the current owner (if you’re not the original owner).”


She offers some further tips on how to research a property’s home:


“Talking to the neighbours is an age-old way to discover what an area is like, the history of the street, and so on. So if there’s a concern about a haunting, “Some basic questions are: ‘did anyone die at the property?’ And ‘were there any violent or criminal happenings at the property?’


She added, “Reviewing old newspaper articles may also turn up some interesting information. This may be found on the Internet, or if it’s a small town paper, by going to the local library. What would be helpful is knowing if there was a death on the property and if so, what kind (natural death in old age will be viewed differently than either a suicide or a murder). One other aspect to keep in mind is good old common sense. Ask yourself, how does the home make you feel?


Should there be any difference between old property and new property? “New property can still hold some answers- residents can find out what was on the land before their home was built,” Amanda explained. “I’d still caution them to take their findings with at least a grain of salt- the activity and impressions that they are picking up could be from another location. Spirits sense who is able to communicate with them in the area, and will gravitate towards those people or that person. A home could have gone for decades without any activity, and when a new family who is sensitive moves into a home, spirits in the area tend to gravitate toward them- spirits will have to use less energy to communicate with sensitive's.”


In the event residents uncover information relating to a haunting, what’s the next step? “If there IS a ghost disclosed (or more than one), do ask what kind of activity occurs, and if possible, when (like on the anniversary of something?) and how frequently. Many, many ghosts are rather quiet most of the time but may act up if there’s remodelling. Some just occasionally appear on a staircase or gently play hide-and-seek to remind you they’re there. If they aren't throwing knives or locking you in the basement, it really may not be an issue at all!”


This echoes a sentiment which Amanda feels about haunted houses. “If a place is found to be haunted, the question has to be asked if it’s actually a problem at all. Most ghosts are not nasty (remember, they’re just people without a body), but either may be simply attached to the place or confused. Plenty of stories abound regarding friendly, and sometimes even helpful, ghosts. Not that we want to keep them like pets, but it should not be presumed that just because there’s a ghost, it’ll be out to make your life miserable. So that, too, needs to be checked out. If the ghost IS a problem, contact a paranormal team to investigate. Remodelling a home (ghosts often stay because a home is familiar - when it ceases to feel like home, many move along).”


The reality, though, is that even if you ask questions, most people who don’t believe in the paranormal won’t attribute things they know and see to anything consisting of a haunting. “About half of all Americans don’t even believe in ghosts, though, so it’s possible for a seller to hear noises and experience things but attribute them not to ghosts but to who knows what - rats in the attic, a draft, or something else,” Amanda said. “So even asking directly is no guarantee of full disclosure.” Bottom line, Amanda explained, doing the research isn't exactly a lost cause.



Find out if anyone has ever died in your house *** Has Someone Died in Your House ?***

Mid-South 'Ghost Hunter' Charged with Domestic Assault

  MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A Mid-South "ghost hunter" is charged with Domestic Assault and Public Intoxication.

41-year-old Derek Kifer is a member of the Ghost Hunters of Southwest Tennessee. 

Memphis police say on Tuesday, September 25, he charged into his estranged wife's home demanding money. She claims he slapped and grabbed her after she ran out of the house.

Officers who responded said Kifer was intoxicated.

This is not Kifer's first run-in with the law. He has three previous arrests for domestic assault.

Mid-South 'Ghost Hunter' Charged with Domestic Assault

Man discovers phantom figure in Facebook photo, image analyst: "I believe this is a real ghost"

A New Hampshire man made a startling discovery when he noticed a ghostly figure photobombing a friend's Facebook snapshot. Now, an expert photo analyst is saying that the phantom is real. Two weeks ago, Daniel Tanner decided to peruse a friend's online photo album when something eerie caught his eye. In the background of an image that shows Tanner's friend posing with her canine companion, what appears to be the ghost of a young girl can be seen peering through a window. "My friend has been claiming for months that her house is haunted," Tanner told Reddit. "Her husband took this pic a few days ago." Tanner claims that the only people in the house at the time of the photograph were his friend and her husband, who snapped the image. While plenty of skeptics were quick to argue that the phantom girl was simply a trick of the eye, a a reflection, or even a clever hoax, the only investigator to bring any expertise to the table was a veteran photo analyst with 15 years of experience under his belt. After performing an in-depth search for evidence of manipulation, he gave the amateur sleuths an incredibly detailed breakdown of the image. His official opinion? The spooky photo is the real deal.