Depending on who you ask, Florida can be described in numerous ways: First, the best vacation spot. Next, the state where too many people want to move (my take). Perhaps even a real estate haven (the general consensus). Rarely is the Sunshine State ever referred to as a hotspot for the paranormal.
That is… until now. Brokerverse was recently reminded of the unusual but growing importance of clearing homes of ghostly activity. According to The Times, during Japan’s own spooky season, landlords hire ghostbusters to cleanse properties of lingering spirits after a death occurs on site.
So whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, here are seven of Florida’s most haunted properties — perfect if your next listing requires a ghostbuster.
1. 601 Museum Court – Brooksville, FL
The May-Stringer House is a 4 story, seven gable, gingerbread trim, 14 room “Painted Lady” Victorian era home overlooking the City of Brooksville. While it’s not currently on the market, the home is considered what the Japanese call jikko bukken — a property where an “accidental death” has occurred.
In 1855, John L. May purchased and built a simple four-room house on the property of the May-Stringer House with his wife, Marena, and their daughters, Matilda and Annie. Three years later, John died of tuberculosis. Marena remained in the home throughout the Civil War and eventually married Confederate hero Frank Saxon. She died giving birth to the couple’s child, a girl named Jessie Mae, in 1869. Jessie survived her birth but died of unknown causes three years later. Marena and Jessie were buried on the property, as were John May and the infant son of Frank and Marena.
After the deaths of his family members, Saxon sold the home, and the property eventually made its way to Dr. Sheldon Stringer. The doctor added ten rooms to the house giving it the Victorian appearance it has today. The estate also served the doctor’s medical practice for many years. After the death of the Stringers, the house passed from one owner to another until Dr. Earl Hensley and his wife Helen sold it to The Hernando Historical Museum Association in 1980.
All of those who died on the property were buried within its grounds, fueling rumors that their spirits roam the halls.
2. 26 Toques Place – St. Augustine, Fl
According to Zillow, this eerie St. Augustine property sold in 2023 for $895,000 and is now valued at roughly $949,000. Originally built in 1925 as servants’ quarters, it was relocated after the estate’s main house burned down. Today, the four-bedroom, four-bath home operates as a bed and breakfast where guests have reported ghostly greetings scrawled on mirrors and sightings of a little boy on the front steps.
Although the activity had stopped for quite some time, renovations to the property have caused the paranormal activity to return.
3. 335 SE 6th Avenue – Fort Lauderdale, FL
South Florida may be home to some of the state’s most expensive real estate, but it also boasts one of its most haunted homes. In 1894, Frank Stranahan acquired ten acres of land along the New River. Soon after marrying Ivy Stranahan, Fort Lauderdale’s first school teacher, the couple built a wood-frame vernacular home with wide porches and a view of the river. The Stranahan House is the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and has served as a trading post, post office and town hall. The house is a wood-frame vernacular structure with wide porches.
In 1975, the Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors, along with the regional Historical Society, restored the property to its original appearance. Though the Stranahan’s died peacefully in the home, the museum staff say Ivy’s spirit still lingers on. Some gusts of the museum report the sensation of a cold hand on their shoulder, while others catch the faint scent of Ivy’s favorite perfume.
4. 5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway – Kissimmee, FL
Is Mortem Manor actually haunted? Probably not – but never say never… Regardless, it proudly bills itself as a “haunted attraction,” and its appeal goes well beyond the usual seasonal scare scene. Unlike pop-up haunted houses that vanish with Halloween — or the Spirit Halloween stores that flood every strip mall — Mortem Manor stands its ground year-round.
Located in Old Town, Kissimmee, minutes from Orlando’s theme-park hub, Mortem Manor opened in late 2016. Spanning two floors, its Victorian-themed facade and interior sets are anchored by movie-quality decor, animatronics over 12 feet tall, live actors and cutting-edge special effects.
Inside, visitors traverse twisting corridors of dread, where dim lighting, strobe effects and sculpted props converge to create a fully immersive horror realm that provides thrills every single night this fall.
5. 100 Alexander Street – Mount Dora, FL
Of course the oldest continuously operating hotel in Florida is bound to be a little haunted. Built in 1883, the 90-room Lakeside Inn has been a cornerstone of Florida tourism for well over a century, hosting notable guests like President Calvin Coolidge. The Inn’s cheery yellow-and-white Victorian-style buildings, shaded by moss-draped oaks along Lake Dorsa, feature wide wrap-around verandas and a timeless, turn-of-the-century charm. Today, it’s a sought-after venue for weddings, events and, naturally, ghost tours.
The hotel’s most famous spirit is Amy, a six-year-old ghost said to have lingered on the property for 130 years. Shortly after her death in 1884, she appeared in a sepia photo taken in the dining room, cementing her place in local lore. Amy is now a defining part of the Lakerside Inn’s identity, and when the property eventually hits the market, prospective buyers should know she’s part of the package.
6. 3400 Gulf Boulevard Street – St. Petersburg, FL
The Pink Palace is a must-see if you’re ever in St. Pete Beach, offering serene oceanfront views, striking Mediterranean-style architecture and even the occasional paranormal encounter. The Don Cesar stands as the pinnacle of prime real estate in St. Pete, one of the few full-service resorts in the area.
Originally owned by Thomas Rowe, the hotel was built after he returned to Florida, still haunted by a Romeo-and-Juliet–style romance with a woman named Lucinda. Forced apart when she was married off to another man, the pair were never reunited in life — only, as the legend goes, in death. Since 1973, guests and staff have reported sightings of a man in a white suit and Panama hat walking hand-in-hand with a raven-haired woman through the hotel before the couple vanishes into thin air.
7. 9067 Southern Boulevard – West Palm Beach, FL
The Riddle House of West Palm Beach was built in 1905 as the Gatekeeper’s Cottage for Woodlawn Cemetery — so yes, it’s about as haunted as it sounds. When Karl Riddle moved in during the 1920s, he recorded in his diary chilling accounts of chains rattling, disembodied voices and a staff too frightened to stay overnight.
After Riddle’s death, the house sat abandoned, destined for demolition until it was relocated to Yesteryear Village in the 1980s. But even in its new setting, the hauntings persisted. Workers restoring the property reported tools flying from the attic, mysteriously shattered windows and an unsettling sense of dread that clung to every room. Thinking of listing The Riddle House? You might want to call the ghostbusters first.
