7 Real Estate Superstitions: Good & Bad “Luck” in Real Estate

There are superstitions EVERYWHERE.  Lucky numbers, unlucky numbers, salt over your shoulder, black cats…there are so many superstitions, I am sure I don’t even know most of them.  I am not one to believe in most superstitions, but at the same time, I don’t purposefully go around breaking mirrors and running under ladders, either! (Hey, better safe than sorry, right!?)  Believe it or not, there are also many superstitions in Real Estate!  Some Real Estate superstitions are localized and some are more wide-spread.
These are the Top 7 Real Estate Superstitions for East Texas:
1. St. Joseph Statue – This is probably the most well known real estate superstition.  St. Joseph is the patron saint of Real Estate and is used by Catholics and non-Catholics, alike.  Legend has it that if you bury the St. Joseph statue (upside down) in your yard near the “for sale” sign, your house will sell faster. I have never tried this myself, but one of my clients just got one, so I will report back on the progress. You can pick one up on amazon…and if you want more testimonials, read these reviews…480+ reviews at the time of this article, and most of the raving about the statue working. Hmm, definitely food for thought (and certainly cheaper than a remodel haha!)

2. Black Doors – This has been passed down to me on two separate occasions, by two different ladies. One was my grandmother, who spent much of her life working in real estate; the other was a Dallas-area socialite and very successful house flipper.  Both of them told me that when all else fails, paint the door black!  Both women relayed to me that their secret when a house wouldn’t sell was to paint the door black!  Ironically, both of these women would’ve painted the door black themselves, in sky-high heels.

3.  Numbers Matter – Would you buy a house at 666 Main St?  or No. 13 Main Street? Some buyers don’t care, but you’d be surprised at how many people wouldn’t even look at the house simply because of the address! (Of course, just like anything else in real estate–this could also play in your favor!) Many buildings do not even have a 13th floor!

4.  Previous Deaths – Along the same lines as the “unlucky” house numbers, this can become an issue if the property was the site of well known deaths (homicide, suicide, etc) and can also bring up the “Is it Haunted?” issue.
5. Lucky Omens – Whether it’s a horse shoe over the door, a pineapple to evoke hospitality or a lucky bamboo plant–old traditions are here to stay!  When I see a horse shoe over a door or a pineapple-y something near a door, I just have to smile. It’s a sweet tradition and even sweeter if it brings luck!

6. No Sold Signs – There is a superstition that if you put a “SOLD” sign out in front of a property before the actual closing date, then the property is doomed not to actually close.  I know of MANY a time when this has not been true…but…it does give you pause 😉
7.  No Counting – I know many REALTORS® and also many mortgage brokers who subscribe to this unlucky superstition.  The superstition is that it is bad luck to calculate your commission on any sale until you receive the settlement statement.  (Yes, I’m guilty of this too).  Kind of goes with the saying “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!”
Real estate is just like life…it’s sometimes a little weird.  Horseshoes, statues and lucky numbers…and you thought all you had to do was price it right! 😉 That’s one of the many things I love about Real Estate…you see and hear all kinds of things!  We are all susceptible to superstitions in every day life and Real Estate is a people business, so it is no different..And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Lisa E. Priest is superstitious in the “better safe than sorry” sense and is a local REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or email [email protected] or at BuyPalestine.com.