ATLANTA -- There are 104,733 homes are for sale in metro Atlanta, and that number just keeps growing, a sign of the struggling housing market.

William Kuharcik has lived in his home for 13 years and is ready for a change, but he knows the market is tough.

“I want to sell the house as fast as possible,” Kuharcik said.

He says he's willing to do whatever it takes. Real estate agent Mary Anne Walser introduced him to Saint Joseph--a statue.

Walser buys the plastic statues in bulk.

“Saint Joseph has just been a real estate tradition for years,” Walser said.

She offers the patron of families and homes to clients to help their home sell faster.

“It's a commitment from the seller and the agent that we're going to do what it takes to sell the house,” Walser said.

The custom is to dig a hole near the for sale sign, and bury the statue upside down facing the home.

Martha Boone was preparing for a long battle selling her home. When she bought it, the home had been on the market for two years. So, she turned to the statue.

“We buried Saint Joseph and we had people arguing over the house in the kitchen within about 48 hours and the house was off the market in less than a week,” Boone said.

The Catholic church prefers that people pray instead. But Father Patrick Scully says the act of burying Saint Joseph may not be disrespectful if the motive is to glorify God.

“Do they do it with faith, or are they trying to manipulate and doctor an economic market? That’s not God's first and foremost concern,” Scully said.

Whatever their motive, some sellers certainly believe.

“I think it's kind of comical, but I'd do it again, if I had another house to sell. I'd put Saint Joseph out there first thing,” Boone said.

Kuharcik planted his statue about two weeks ago, but so far it hasn’t worked.