7 Shocking Facts About 108 Ocean Avenue Amityville NY: The 'Horror House' Today In 2025
The infamous Dutch Colonial house at 108 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, remains one of the most recognizable and controversial properties in American history. As of December 23, 2025, the house is still a private residence, occupied by an undisclosed owner who purchased the property in a quiet 2017 sale. Despite decades of sensational media coverage, the current reality of the five-bedroom waterfront home is far removed from the chilling events of the 1974 DeFeo family murders and the subsequent, highly contested claims of the Lutz family, whose story became the foundation for *The Amityville Horror* franchise.
The persistent curiosity surrounding the address, which was famously changed from 112 Ocean Avenue to 108 Ocean Avenue to deter sightseers, continues to drive interest in the property's financial and physical status. This article dives deep into the most current and little-known facts about the house, revealing its significant architectural changes and the timeline of families who have attempted to make a normal life within its notorious walls.
A Complete Timeline of Ownership and Key Resident Families
The history of the Amityville house is a complex narrative of tragedy, sensationalism, and a continuous struggle for normalcy by subsequent owners. The property's notoriety began with the gruesome 1974 DeFeo murders, followed by the brief, 28-day stay of the Lutz family, whose paranormal claims launched the house into global infamy.
- Ronald and Louise DeFeo Family (1965–1974): The family, including six children, lived in the home until November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings in their sleep. The house sat vacant for 13 months after the tragedy.
- George and Kathy Lutz Family (1975–1976): Purchased the house for a reduced price of $80,000. They moved out after 28 days, claiming to have experienced terrifying paranormal phenomena, which became the basis for Jay Anson’s 1977 book, *The Amityville Horror*.
- The Cromarty Family (1977–1987): Jim and Barbara Cromarty bought the house and were the first to attempt to reclaim its privacy. They were responsible for changing the official address from 112 Ocean Avenue to the current 108 Ocean Avenue to discourage the constant stream of tourists and trespassers. They reported no paranormal activity.
- The O’Neill Family (1987–1997): This family made the most significant architectural change to the house, removing the iconic "eye windows" that had become synonymous with the horror films.
- The D’Antonio Family (1997–2010): Another family who lived in the home for over a decade, quietly maintaining the property in Suffolk County, Long Island.
- The Unknown Owner (2010–2017): The house was sold to a private owner for $950,000.
- The Current Undisclosed Owner (2017–Present): The house was last sold in 2017 and remains privately occupied today.
The Shocking Financial Reality: Last Sale Price and Current Value
For a house with such a dark and famous past, its market value is a subject of intense speculation. The notoriety of the property, while driving tourism, simultaneously depresses its price compared to similar, non-infamous waterfront properties along the Amityville River.
The house, a stately Dutch Colonial built in 1927, features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and sits on a waterfront lot. The real estate history reveals a fluctuating price, directly tied to the stigma of the Amityville Murders and the media circus surrounding the 'haunting'.
Key Real Estate Transactions (2016-2025)
- 2016 Listing: The house was initially listed for sale in 2016 with an asking price of $850,000.
- March 2017 Sale: The property officially sold in March 2017 for $605,000. This price was significantly below the initial asking price and reflects the difficulty in selling a property with such a notorious history, despite its prime Long Island location.
- Current Estimated Value (2025): While the house is not currently on the market, its estimated value has risen considerably since the last sale. Recent estimates place the property's value at approximately $1,066,000, reflecting the general appreciation of real estate in the area. This figure demonstrates that despite the stigma, the property is a valuable asset in the competitive New York housing market.
The Great Architectural Cover-Up: Why the 'Eye Windows' are Gone
Perhaps the most significant change to 108 Ocean Avenue, visually and symbolically, is the removal of the iconic "eye windows." These two quarter-round windows on the third floor gable were immortalized in the 1979 film and subsequent adaptations, giving the house a menacing, watchful appearance that became the visual shorthand for the Amityville Horror.
The decision to remove them was a direct, practical response to the house's fame. The constant flow of curiosity seekers, paranormal enthusiasts, and tourists made life unbearable for the residents. The O'Neill family, who owned the house in the late 1980s, took the drastic step of replacing the quarter-round windows with standard, square-framed windows. This renovation was a calculated move to:
- Deter Onlookers: Without the signature feature, the house looks less like its cinematic counterpart, making it harder for casual tourists to identify.
- Reclaim Privacy: The goal was to make the Dutch Colonial home blend in with the other waterfront properties in the tranquil Amityville neighborhood.
- Sever the Cinematic Tie: By altering the façade, the owners sought to physically distance the property from the fictionalized and sensationalized version of events portrayed in the *Amityville Horror* movies.
Today, the house is painted in a lighter color and its exterior has been significantly altered from the dark, brooding structure seen in the film, further contributing to its current, less recognizable appearance.
Life at 108 Ocean Avenue Today: A Private Residence
Despite the enduring legend, the house at 108 Ocean Avenue is, and has been for decades, a normal, occupied private residence. The current owners, whose identity has been successfully kept private since the 2017 sale, continue the tradition of privacy established by the Cromarty family in the late 1970s.
The house is not a museum, a tourist attraction, or a dilapidated, abandoned structure. It is a well-maintained, five-bedroom home on the Amityville River, complete with a boathouse and waterfront access, typical of high-value Long Island real estate. The families who have lived there since the Lutz family—including the Cromartys, the O'Neills, and the D'Antonios—have consistently and publicly stated that they experienced no paranormal activity or supernatural phenomena, lending credence to the theory that the Lutz family's story was largely a hoax designed to secure a book deal.
The true horror of 108 Ocean Avenue remains the tragic 1974 crime committed by Ronald DeFeo Jr., a fact often overshadowed by the fictionalized paranormal narrative. The house itself has been cleansed of its cinematic stigma by time, renovation, and a succession of owners determined to live peacefully within its walls, transforming one of America's most famous "haunted" houses into a quiet, suburban home.
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