You’ve seen the movies. The red rooms, the swarms of flies, and those iconic, eye-like windows that seemed to stare right into your soul. It’s the stuff of nightmares. But for the people living on Ocean Avenue in the quiet village of Amityville, New York, it’s just another Tuesday.
Honestly, the real story of who lives in the Amityville house now is a lot less about demonic pigs and a lot more about property taxes and annoying tourists.
The Quiet Reality of 108 Ocean Avenue
If you drove past the house today, you might actually miss it. The famous "quarter-moon" windows are gone. Replaced. The current owners—who purchased the home in early 2017—have kept a remarkably low profile. They bought the property for $605,000. That’s a steal for a 5,000-square-foot Dutch Colonial with a boathouse on the canal, even if it does come with a "slightly used" reputation.
The house doesn't even use its original address anymore. Local officials allowed the change from 112 Ocean Avenue to 108 Ocean Avenue years ago. Why? To stop people from showing up at 3:00 a.m. looking for ghosts. It didn't work. People still show up. They stand on the sidewalk, take selfies, and occasionally try to sneak onto the porch.
The current residents are private citizens. They aren't ghost hunters. They aren't horror buffs. They’re just people who wanted a beautiful home in a wealthy Long Island neighborhood. Since taking ownership nearly a decade ago, they haven't reported a single bleeding wall or a levitating bed.
Who Lives in the Amityville House Now and Why They Stay
Living in the world's most famous "haunted" house requires a thick skin. You aren't just buying a home; you're buying a battle against the public imagination. The family that has lived there since 2017 remains unnamed in most public records to protect their privacy, which is totally fair given the history of the place.
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Before them, the house belonged to Caroline and David D’Antonio. They bought it in 2010 for $950,000. They loved the house. Caroline once told Newsday that the only thing "haunted" about the place was the steady stream of curiosity seekers. They lived there for several years before deciding to downsize.
A Timeline of Post-Lutz Owners
- James and Barbara Cromarty (1977–1987): These were the brave souls who moved in right after the Lutz family fled. They lived there for ten years. Ten years! No ghosts. They even joked that the only spirits in the house were in their liquor cabinet.
- Peter and Jeanne O’Neill (1987–1997): Another decade-long residency. They were responsible for some major renovations, including the removal of those "eye" windows to make the house look less like a movie set.
- Brian Wilson (1997–2010): No, not the Beach Boy. This Brian Wilson spent over a decade in the home, further modernizing it.
- The D’Antonios (2010–2017): They kept the home beautiful but eventually moved on as they grew older.
- The Current Owners (2017–Present): They paid $605,000—a significant drop from previous prices—largely because the "stigma" of the house makes it harder to sell than a normal Long Island mansion.
The Myth vs. The Woodwork
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. The Lutz family lived there for 28 days. They claimed "The Amityville Horror" happened to them in less than a month. Every family since then has stayed for a decade or more.
Basically, the house has been "peaceful" for about 48 of the last 50 years.
If you talk to the neighbors—and trust me, they are tired of talking about it—they’ll tell you the real horror is the traffic. On Halloween, the street often has to be blocked off. The village of Amityville has a love-hate relationship with the house. It brings in "dark tourism," but it also makes life a headache for the people who actually pay taxes there.
Why the Price Keeps Fluctuating
You’d think a house this famous would be worth millions. In 2026, a 5-bedroom waterfront home in that part of Long Island should easily clear $1.5 million. But the Amityville house sells for way less.
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The 2017 sale price of $605,000 was a massive discount. It's called "stigmatized property" in real estate lingo. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, you have to deal with the fact that you can't have a private backyard BBQ without someone peering over the fence with a camera. That lowers the value.
What the House Looks Like Inside
Forget the movies. The interior is actually stunning. It has:
- A large, modern kitchen with high-end appliances.
- A finished basement (where the "Red Room" supposedly was, though it was actually just a small storage space behind the stairs).
- A massive boathouse.
- Views of the Amityville Creek.
It’s a luxury home. It’s bright, airy, and full of sunlight. The current owners have maintained the renovations started by the O'Neills and Wilsons, keeping it a functional, modern residence rather than a museum of the macabre.
The Tragedy No One Should Forget
While we obsess over who lives in the Amityville house now, we sometimes gloss over the actual tragedy. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed six members of his family in that house. That part isn't a ghost story. It’s a real, horrific crime.
The DeFeo family—Ronald Sr., Louise, and four of their children—were murdered in their beds. When you look at the house today, you’re looking at a place where a family was lost. The families who have lived there since the 70s generally treat the home with respect for that reason. They aren't interested in "ghost hunts" because they understand the weight of the history.
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Can You Visit?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Please don't.
The house is a private residence. The owners don't give tours. They don't have a gift shop. If you try to walk onto the property, you will likely be met by the Amityville Police Department. They are very efficient at moving "horror tourists" along.
If you're looking for the Amityville experience, you're better off watching the 1979 original or reading Jay Anson’s book. Just remember that the book was famously called "a hoax" by many, including the DeFeo family’s lawyer, who later claimed he and the Lutzes "created this horror story over many bottles of wine."
Real-World Insights for the Curious
If you’re fascinated by the history of 108 Ocean Avenue, there are better ways to engage than lurking on the sidewalk:
- Check Local Archives: The Amityville Historical Society has records of the village's history that provide context beyond the movies.
- Study Real Estate Trends: Use the house as a case study for how "stigma" affects property value over decades.
- Respect the Privacy: Remember that a real family is currently eating dinner or watching TV inside those walls.
The house is just a house. It's made of wood, brick, and glass. The ghosts, if they ever existed, seem to have moved on—even if the public hasn't. The people living there now are just Long Islanders looking for a nice view of the water.
To truly understand the legacy of the property, look into the architectural history of Dutch Colonials on Long Island or research the 1974 DeFeo trial transcripts for the factual, non-paranormal history of the site. This provides a much clearer picture than any Hollywood remake ever could.