by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
A saint or something supernatural?
For most real estate agents, the statue of St. Joseph is neither: it’s a way of selling real estate.
But what in the world (or the netherworld) does a cheap piece of plastic hidden underground have to do with selling a home?
“I just sold a home and I feel that St. Joseph was a big help,” said Carol Studer, an agent at Eagle Harbor Realty. “The home had been under pending but the sale fell apart on the day of closing due to the buyer’s home not selling in Chicago. The sellers had start construction on their new home and had to remove all contingencies within 60 days. The home was having wonderful traffic but no offers.
“On the last day of the contingency period, I decided to bury St. Joseph and the home was under contract without contingencies by the end of the day, and in time for the sellers to purchase their new ‘dream’ home.
“I have been selling homes for 21 years and feel that I have the knowledge and professionalism to sell homes, but I have used St. Joseph when I have a difficult home or situation.
“He has never failed me.”
St. Joseph, who the Catholic Church refers to as the “earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ,” gets this job because he’s the Patron Saint of home buyers, according to the Catholic roster of saints.
Of the 5,000 or so saints, it’s unclear how Joseph ended up with home buyers (he also is the Patron Saint of immigrants and treasurers, as well as the predictable married couples and pregnant women,) but the most prominent source seems to be a legend about nuns in the Middle Ages who needed land for a convent, and a donor came forward after they prayed to St. Joseph.
The Catholic Church keeps its distance from any claims. Even though statues of the saint are big sellers, many churches keep them out of their bookstore, stating that it blurs the line between the supernatural and religion.
That doesn’t mean that someone isn’t making a buck.
There are at least three companies which sell kits that include the statue and instructions. One also advises that your good fortune, should you cash in with a buyer, should be shared, and recommends a Michigan church which is building a shrine to St. Joseph.
The church doesn’t have a monopoly; you can get the saint at some hardware and gift stores, too, or by mail order through the internet. The kits go from $3.98 to $10, depending on the quality of the merchandise.
The legend says you need to bury the statue upside down but that’s disputed.
“You must do your part, have the home priced right and believe,” says Kathy White, a Re/Max agent in Fernandina Beach. “It does not matter if he is upside down, inside out or feet first.
But, she adds, “I do like to put him near the front door.”
Palencia broker Naomi Lumley adds says that sometimes you have to use the statue on your own.
“My next door neighbor was a prominent business owner who is also a member of the First Baptist Church. The real estate market was very slow. He put his home on the market and it just wouldn’t sell.
“I knew about St. Joseph but I also knew he would never go along with a buried statue.
“I bought a small plastic statue and a copy of the prayer to St. Joseph. One night after everyone was asleep, I crept over to my neighbor’s home and buried the statue under the front hedge.
“I prayed the St. Joseph prayer.
“In only a couple of weeks, a sweet Catholic buyer saw the home and bought it. Months later, my new neighbor was telling me what a miracle it was that they found this home. They had certain requirements and prayed that the right home would come on the market. I laughed and told them to dig under the hedge.
“And there it was, St. Joseph.”
But, some prefer to stay on the straight and narrow.
“I have heard the story of the St. Joseph statue for years,” said Dee Bumbarger of Buck & Buck Realtors. “I have never used nor advised a seller to use this method of getting a home sold. I have always been terrified that if I did so, I would immediately be struck by lightening from an angry saint!”
Paul Andry, a broker with Coldwell Banker Walter Williams Realty, adds his experience:
“In 1994, I was not yet in the real estate business yet.
“My wife and I had decided to build a new home on a lot we owned. We contacted a Realtor, placed our home on the market, and waited. We had some showings on the property and even reduced the price after the first two weeks. But no offers came in. Then the property sat for about six months.
“A friend who was a neighborhood Realtor suggested the St. Joseph statue burial as a possible solution to our dilemma. Being a parishioner at St. Joseph’s in Mandarin, I went to the gift shop and discussed my needs with them. The lady there gave me a 98-cent plastic statue and assured me that it was the best selling item they had.
“I rushed home and, under the tutelage of my wife and a neighbor, I placed the statue in the assigned hole — and waited. Within two days, we received three full price offers on our home. One was a cash offer that wanted to close the same day our new home was being closed. We accepted that one.
“Again, in 2003, we downsized to a smaller home. I listed my home and buried that statue in our yard. First hour on the market, first visitor shown — sold, full price, cash with a quick close.
“Since that time, the statue sits on our mantle and will always be in our home until needed again.
“I am a believer.”
Millie Kanyar of Watson is a doubter but had one sale where St. Joseph came into action.
“The sellers actually disclosed that they had buried the statute upside down in their yard in order to attract a buyer for the home. It was my understanding that there was a prayer and a specific ritual to follow in order for it to work.
“In this case, the seller was convinced that the process had worked since I was able to bring an offer they accepted.”
“I use St. Joseph statues regularly when listing properties and they haven’t failed me yet,” said 2004 NEFAR Realtor of the Year Phyllis Staines of Re/Max Coastal. “I have two funny stories related to St. Joe.
“When I first got in the business, I was asked by one seller why they should list with me. I responded that I had a ‘secret weapon’... the St. Joseph statue. The seller went onto say that he didn’t need St. Joseph as he had a statue of Madonna. I replied, ‘Madonna? She hasn’t had a hit song in years!” Of course, he was referring to Madonna, the Virgin Mary!
“Another seller informed me she couldn’t understand why her home hasn’t sold as she had buried a St. Joseph statue. I asked her where she buried the statue and she proceeded to dig it up to show me. To her surprise, I informed her that she did not bury a St. Joseph statue but rather one of the wise men from a Christmas manger set.
“I promptly went to my car — I keep a stash of St. Joseph statues on hand just in case — and gave her an ‘official’ St. Joseph statue.
“The home sold nine days later!”