Vampire house, mannequin-filled duplex home, jungle room. These are just some of the most bizarre real estate listings unearthed on Zillow by bored internet users stuck at home during the quarantine.
If you loved spending your free time scrolling through different types of homes in Zillow, chances are, you have also experienced squinting your eyes and scratching your head over a bizarre home waiting to be discovered by the internet world.
While online house hunting is not a new hobby, more people were drawn into it when the coronavirus global pandemic hit last year. Since most people are stuck at home, the foot traffic in Zillow website increased out of boredom and probably a defense mechanism to the so-called "cabin fever."
What is cabin fever?
Healthline described cabin fever as the feeling of boredom and loneliness associated with being isolated or disconnected from the outside world. It is accompanied by a series of negative emotions.
Many people experienced cabin fever while observing social distancing, and self-quarantine during the pandemic. That is why more people rely on the internet to kill boredom and find entertainment.
How weird listings cure pandemic cabin fever?
During the height of the health crisis, the online visitors of Zillow's website increased by 50%, according to the New York Times. But most of these online users are not necessarily potential homebuyers.
"What many are contemplating when they browse Zillow...is not necessarily a purchase, but an alternate life," Times reporter Taylor Lorenz wrote.
"Zillow surfing has become a primary form of escapism for those who want to flee not just their homes but the reality of 2020," he added.
Aside from fantasizing how it feels like to live in a luxurious penthouse or cozy beach house, browsing real estate listings also provide hope in shedding some of the pandemic cabin fever.
Browsing home listing sites also breaks the monotonous routine of working from home, cooking meals, and cleaning the house.
Chicago-based clinical psychologist Bethany Cook explained that browsing property listings can release happy hormones, which boost one's mood.
"When a property or idea you like pops on your screen, your brain responds in the same way it would if you had found a gold nugget on the sidewalk," Cook told HuffPost.
Below are some of the weirdest Zillow listings that went viral on social media and have probably reduced cabin fever symptoms of some people due to its unique features.
Mannequin-Filled Lake Tahoe Duplex
Twitter users started sharing photos from this 2,116 square-foot duplex after getting the creeps from a dozen mannequins casually lounging on the property.
Aside from the mannequins dressed in long gowns, the five bedroom, three bathroom California house also received mixed reactions due to the clutter, pile of dirty laundry, and leftover food boxes scattered all over the property.
Vampire House
The Gothic-vibed house located in Millcreek, Utah is complete with cathedral-style windows and a bizarre swimming pool has created a buzz online with its overall Halloween vibe.
The five-bedrooms and six-bathroom property also features a fantasy-like mini castle exterior, cathedral-like wooden door, high vaulted ceilings, dark stone walls, and dungeon-looking wine cellar, which gave everyone an extra chilling feeling.
