There’s no denying it—in some areas, the Real Estate market is a soft one. If you’re like most Real Estate agents across the country, you are probably trying every trick in the book to sell homes. You might consider turning to faith—and your shovel—to help move your properties.
In today’s Real Estate market, homeowners and Real Estate agents around the world are calling on St. Joseph to help them sell homes. St. Joseph believers go about the Real Estate sales process just like everyone else. They hire an agent, set a sale price, and wait for the offers to come in. What makes them unique? They also bury a St. Joseph statue in the yard.
In the Roman Catholic religion, St. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus Christ, is the patron saint of home and family. Long recognized as the provider and protector of Jesus and Mary, St. Joseph has been traditionally recognized for household protection. However, over the past few decades, more and more people are turning to him to help boost Real Estate sales as well. According to tradition, burying a statue of St. Joseph in the lawn—and praying to the patron saint of Real Estate—will help close a deal.
It is hard to determine exactly when this tradition began. There are several theories on the origination of St. Joseph statues in the Real Estate business. The ritual may have started in the Middle Ages when an order of European nuns buried a St. Joseph medal in the ground and prayed for help to obtain a convent. Some say it began when a group of German carpenters placed St. Joseph statues in the foundations of homes, praying for prosperity. Others believe that the ritual began in the 1800s when Brother Andre Bessett, who founded Montreal's St. Joseph Oratory, buried medals of the saint on a property that he wanted. While the owners had refused his previous offers, they suddenly changed their minds after he buried the medals.
Regardless of its origin, this ritual is an increasingly popular method of boosting sales. Do a quick Google search or neighborhood survey and you are sure to find avid St. Joseph believers. Stephen Binz, author of “Saint Joseph, My Real Estate Agent,” is a prime example. After his home sat on the market for seven months, Stephen followed the advice of his religious Real Estate agent and buried a Saint Joseph statue in his yard. A week later, he had a successful offer. (Ironically, from a man amed Joseph.)
Real Estate agents confirm the popularity of this ritual. "You’d be surprised at how many people do this,” says Alex (last name withheld), a Real Estate agent in Miami, which has a high Catholic population. “In a good market, you don’t see it as much. But as soon as things get soft, you’ll see St. Joseph buried in just about every neighborhood.”
According to Alex, some sellers are a bit reluctant to turn to a statue to drive sales, but if the home sits long enough, most are eventually willing to give it a try. In today’s market, tactics such as this are not so farfetched.
For those who are uncomfortable with the traditional method of burying St. Joseph upside down, there are a variety of alternate options. You can bury a medal or a statue in the front or back yard, either right side up or upside down. It is considered ideal to have him facing the house and near the “For Sale” sign. After the home sells, it is common for successful sellers to dig up the saint and put him in a place of honor in their new home.
Alex admits that he is not fully convinced that the statues actually move homes. However, his skepticism does not stop him from carrying a bunch of them in the trunk of his car. “They give my clients hope and that means a lot in this market,” he says. “They love it when I approach them with the idea. I know the homes will eventually sell, so why not try a little extra something to improve their chances?”
Whether it is truth or superstition does not matter; the fact is that statues of St. Joseph are flying off the shelves. The custom of burying St. Joseph has become so widespread that many religious goods stores, including Catholic Supply of St. Louis, are selling the statues. One of Catholic Supply’s most popular items is the Joseph Home Selling Kit, which includes a 3.5-inch plastic statue, a prayer card for home sale, and instructions.
According to Carol Campbell, Catholic Supply’s book and media buyer, the company has sold more than 3,000 statues in the last year alone. Carol says she sees a direct correlation between how the market is doing and how many statues are sold. “When there’s a rough market, we definitely sell more statues,” she says.
Carol says she has experienced the miracle of St. Joseph firsthand. “When I was a teacher at a school called St. Joseph’s Academy, I had a statue that someone had given me. When I decided to sell my home, one of the sisters recommended the ritual to me. And it worked—my home sold quickly.”
While she is quick to point out that the Catholic Church does not take a formal stand on the practice, she believes that there is definitely something to it. “Lots of homeowners and Real Estate agents come in here to buy the statues,” she says. “They all say it works. In fact, many of the customers are people who are buying a statue for someone else, because it has worked for them in the past.”
There is much debate over whether the St. Joseph ritual is a miracle or a modern myth. Regardless of their personal opinions, responsible Real Estate agents should provide practical advice along with the statues. “Only after a seller has set a fair price and prepared their home to sell should they turn to St. Joseph,” says Alex. “After all, even the Bible says ‘God helps those who help themselves.’”
