The Amityville Horror House Today: 7 Shocking Facts About 112 Ocean Avenue’s Current Status (2025)

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The notorious house at 112 Ocean Avenue, forever cemented in popular culture as the source of "The Amityville Horror," remains one of the most famous and chilling residential properties in American history. As of late 2025, the house is a private, occupied residence, but its appearance and address have been drastically altered by subsequent owners desperate to escape its sinister legacy and the constant stream of sightseers.

This deep dive reveals the most current facts about the infamous Long Island home, from its last multi-million dollar valuation to the specific architectural changes made to erase the memory of the 1974 DeFeo family murders and the subsequent alleged haunting of the Lutz family in 1975. The true story of this Dutch Colonial home is less about ghosts and more about real estate, crime, and the power of a media sensation.

The True Biography of the Infamous 112 Ocean Avenue House

The history of the Amityville house is a timeline of tragedy, sensationalism, and a continuous effort by residents to reclaim their privacy from a global horror phenomenon. The property sits in a quiet, affluent neighborhood in Amityville, New York, on Long Island.

  • Original Name: "High Hopes"
  • Original Address: 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701
  • Current Address: 108 Ocean Avenue (Changed by owners to deter tourists)
  • Architectural Style: Dutch Colonial Revival with a distinctive gambrel roof.
  • Year Built: 1927
  • The DeFeo Murders: On November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his entire family—parents Ronald DeFeo Sr. and Louise DeFeo, and four younger siblings: Dawn, Allison, Marc, and John Matthew—as they slept in their beds.
  • The Lutz Family: George and Kathy Lutz, along with Kathy’s three children from a previous marriage (Christopher, Daniel, and Missy), moved into the house in December 1975, only to flee after 28 days, claiming to have experienced terrifying paranormal events.
  • Subsequent Owners: The house has been sold multiple times, including to Jim and Barbara Cromarty (1977), Brian Wilson (1997), and a final sale in 2017.
  • Last Sale Date: March 2017
  • Last Sale Price: $605,000

The Current Status of the Amityville House in 2025

For those hoping to visit a crumbling, abandoned haunted mansion, the reality is quite different. The house at 108 Ocean Avenue is not only well-maintained but actively occupied, with its owners making significant efforts to distance the property from its cinematic and literary reputation.

1. The Iconic "Evil Eye" Windows Are Gone

Perhaps the most shocking change for fans of the 1979 and 2005 films is the absence of the house’s most recognizable feature: the two quarter-round windows on the third floor that resembled sinister, glowing eyes.

These windows, which gave the house its menacing, watchful appearance in the movie posters and promotional materials, were a major deterrent for potential buyers and a beacon for unwanted tourists.

The owners made the strategic decision to remove the spooky quarter-round windows and replace them with standard rectangular windows. This renovation was a deliberate attempt to change the house's silhouette and make it less recognizable, allowing the residents a modicum of peace and privacy.

2. The Address Was Permanently Changed to 108 Ocean Avenue

The address "112 Ocean Avenue" is synonymous with the Amityville Horror. However, this address no longer exists for the property.

One of the subsequent owners, likely the Cromarty family or Brian Wilson, successfully petitioned to have the street number officially changed to 108 Ocean Avenue. This small but crucial change has helped to confuse tourists and discourage the constant flow of morbid curiosity seekers to the private residence. The 2005 film even changed the address to 412 Ocean Avenue to further protect the real location.

3. The Last Sale Price and Current Estimated Value

The house has been sold four times since the Lutz family fled in 1976. The most recent confirmed sale occurred in March 2017 for a price of $605,000.

This price is often considered depressed due to the property’s infamous history, as comparable homes in the area might fetch significantly more. However, as of 2025, the house’s current estimated value is reportedly over $1 million, reflecting the general appreciation of Long Island real estate, despite its dark past.

4. It is a Continuously Occupied Private Residence

Contrary to the popular narrative of a house that no one can stay in, the property has been continuously occupied by various families since the Lutz family's 28-day stay in 1975.

None of the subsequent owners, including Jim and Barbara Cromarty (who lived there for a decade) or Brian Wilson (who owned it for 20 years), have reported any of the extreme paranormal phenomena documented by the Lutzes or depicted in the films.

The True Crime vs. The Horror Legend

The enduring fascination with 112 Ocean Avenue stems from the collision of a real, brutal mass murder and a sensationalized alleged haunting. Topical authority demands acknowledging the key figures involved in both events.

The DeFeo Murders: A Real-Life Tragedy

The true tragedy began with the DeFeo family. Ronald DeFeo Jr., known as "Butch," was convicted of the second-degree murders of his parents, Ronald Sr. and Louise, and his four siblings. DeFeo Jr. claimed he was possessed by a demonic entity that forced him to commit the crimes, a defense that was ultimately rejected.

DeFeo Jr. died in prison in 2021, meaning the last living connection to the original crime is gone, but the questions surrounding the murders—including the long-debated possible involvement of his sister, Dawn—continue to fuel true crime discussions.

The Lutz Story: A Controversial Phenomenon

The story of George and Kathy Lutz and their three children (Christopher, Daniel, and Missy) was the basis for the bestselling book by Jay Anson and the subsequent film franchise. The family claimed to experience everything from strange odors and swarms of flies to green slime, levitation, and the manifestation of a demonic pig named "Jodie."

However, the veracity of the Lutz's claims has been heavily scrutinized and largely debunked. Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s lawyer, William Weber, later claimed that he and the Lutzes had fabricated the ghost story "over many bottles of wine" for a book deal.

Despite the skepticism from investigators and subsequent owners, the story of the Amityville Horror remains a foundational pillar of modern paranormal lore, ensuring that the house at 108 Ocean Avenue will never truly be just a normal home.

The Amityville Horror House Today: 7 Shocking Facts About 112 Ocean Avenue’s Current Status (2025)
112 ocean avenue house
112 ocean avenue house

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