Does the Charleston Ghost Convey?

-Drew Grossklaus, Sales Director / BIC

Halloween always strikes me as that holiday that people really love or they let it come and go without a second thought. Those with kids know the importance of the perfect costume, but more importantly the collecting of candy. Halloween is also a time when we take part in the fun of telling scary ghost stories.

Charleston is notorious for its ghostly places. Those include the Old Exchange Building, St. Phillips Graveyard, Old City Jail, Poogan’s Porch Restaurant, Dock Street Theater, White Point Gardens, and many others. Charleston’s tour companies give great histories of these haunted places on ghost tours around the city.

Given the history of ghost stories here in Charleston, you may be wondering if some of these spirits must inhabit the beautiful homes. Yes, there are many stories of ghosts inhabiting the more than 300-year-old homes. If you’re looking to buy a home, you may wonder if there are requirements of being told about a possible ghost. The laws on disclosing “psychologically affected” properties vary from state to state. In South Carolina the law states, “An owner is not required to disclose the fact or suspicion that a property may be or is psychologically affected.” This does not mean that if specifically asked the owner can make intentional misrepresentations. It should be noted that the psychologically affected definition also includes if someone died in the property and the manner of death.

If you are one who prefers to encounter ghosts asking for candy on Halloween, when purchasing your next home be sure to ask if it has any “permanent residents.”

P.S. Google “Sue Howard, St. Phillips Graveyard,” for the picture that made for one of the best Charleston ghost stories.

SC Real Estate Code of Laws Title 27 Article 1 Section 27-50-90