The Watcher: Is the 657 Boulevard house in Westfield, New Jersey a real place?

If you’re looking for a spooky new show that’ll have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next, you should add The Watcher on Netflix to your list. The miniseries, based on a 2018 article published by The Cut detailing the real-life story of a family in New Jersey, hits the streamer this Thursday, Oct. 13 and should not be missed.

With an unbelievable unsolved mystery like this and a star-studded cast that includes Naomi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Mia Farrow, Margo Martindale, Jennifer Coolidge, and others, we won’t be surprised if The Watcher takes the top spot on Netflix’s Top TV Shows by this weekend. The series is created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, who currently hold the #1 spot with Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

The Watcher follows a family who buys their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey, but before they even get the chance to move in, the husband and wife start receiving creepy letters from an anonymous writer. This person signs the messages from “The Watcher,” and knows things about the family that only someone close to them would see. They also know things about the house that only someone who’s either lived in it or has watched it for years would know. So creepy.

Is 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey a real place?

So we know The Watcher is based on a true story, but how much of the TV show really happened? Namely, is the home in Westfield, New Jersey that the family buys real? We’re here to confirm that it is! Though names have been changed for the Netflix show, a lot of the events are true. The main characters, Nora and Dean Brannock, are based on real-life people Derek and Maria Broaddus. The couple purchased the six-bedroom home at the address 657 Boulevard for $1.35 million in 2014.

About five years after buying the home, the family sold it for $959,000 after several attempts, according to a follow-up article from The Cut. Reportedly, the new owners have not received any mysterious letters since closing the deal. In the same report, The Cut says there isn’t any new evidence nor fresh leads, though people who have been following along with the case have their many suspicions.

According to The Cut, the town of Westfield, New Jersey was considered to be one of the safest and richest places to live in America, with the site Neighborhood Scout adding it to their list of 30 safest communities in the country in 2014.

As The Patch reports, 657 Boulevard is now owned by two people named Andrew and Allison Carr. You can check out interior shots of the infamous place here.

Watch all episodes of The Watcher on Netflix starting this Thursday, Oct. 13.