Seattle company doing a booming business in Hell

SEATTLE - With the economy down and foreclosures at an all-time high, a Seattle man was looking for something he could sell without actually owning it.

And that's how Pandemonium Real Estate got into the business of selling plots in Hell.

"It really started out to be a comedic affair and it's just gone crazy," said David Cook, who runs the site.

"We've had way more than we expected. We just got a call from a celebrity gifting event to possibly have these in the celebrity gift baskets for the Golden Globes next year."

The site has listings in nine circles of Hell: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Wrath & Sloth, Violence, Fraud and Treason.

"Hell being the most well-branded idea on the planet, it's got a global reach," said Cook, whose day job is with a dental supply business.

Customers looking for a Halloween decoration or a joke gift for a co-worker can spend $50 to $3,000 depending on the location and type of deed.

"It's actually a work of art," Cook said of the custom handmade scrolls and framed ownership titles.

He didn't expect a lot of attention, but orders are pouring in and he's getting calls from around the world.

Asked for property advice for journalists, Cook said we would probably be with the lawyers in the circle of fraud.

"You could have a spot right there on the River Styx," he said. "We're having fun with it. It's just been one joke after another."

But the project doesn't have everyone laughing.

"Now we're actually getting calls from some on the extreme religious right," Cook said. "They are taking great offense at this, and I just have to laugh and ask if they get a sense of humor."

Cook, who considers himself a Christian, was worried at first but realizes "it is what it is and we're just having fun. It clearly is a joke from top to bottom."

Cook said he hopes to have celebrities sign some of the deeds so they can be auctioned for charity.

In the meantime, he's here to help anyone looking for the perfect spot among fire and brimstone.

"Circle of lust clearly has been the most popular," he said. "People are wearing that like a badge of honor."