if you are selling a house in AZ and the former owner died in the house do you have to tell the new buyer?

Question

I am in the business of flipping houses for profit in az. i am buying a house that the former owner died in. Am I legally obligated to indulge this information to prospective buyers? If you do not know what flipping houses means I can tell you real quick. I buy houses for cash and refurbish them to sell for a profit. This particular house I got cheap due to the death of the former owner. I am not sure if Az has a law that requires me to tell perspective buyers about his death in the home. He died of natural causes. If you can help me I would be ever so greatful.

Answer 1

In Texas, deaths by natural causes in the house don't have to be disclosed. This would include old age, cancer, aids, etc. Deaths by violence MUST be disclosed as well as those that happened due to condition of property (railing gave way, fell to death, fell through roof, brick wall collapsed on him... etc.)

Don't know law in AZ, but might be similar. If in doubt, over disclose. You don't want to get sued for $500,000 on a house you made $40,000 on.....

Answer 2

It depends on the state. I live in MN and work in real estate and we do not have to disclose natural deaths or suicides, but any other deaths do have to be disclosed (some morally and others legally). Call a real estate agent in your area to find out for sure.

Answer 3

You probably can't lie if asked directly. But in general, there is absolutely no obligation to disclose a death inside of a property that occurred naturally. Murder, yes. AIDS, no.

Answer 4

As long as it was natural causes I don't think you need to mention it unless they ask you what happened to the previous owner... to which you could respond, "he died in his sleep." er whatever... It would be different if he was murdered, for example.

Answer 5

Only if it is haunted. In that case, you must sacrifice a live chicken in the parlor. This will cause the ghost to attack your enemies.