I am in the process of buying a house and have today discovered that someone was brutally murdered there just over 2 and a half years ago.
The case was in the national news and there is a new local campaign surrounding the case which is going to make a lot more people aware of it (hence how I've only just found out).
I'm not personally worried about living in the house but I'm concerned about it's resale potential.
Would something like this totally put you off buying a house or more inclined to want to buy it?
Do you think it would decrease the value of the house or increase it because of the history?
Your opinions are appreciated!
2007-02-15 06:39:07 · 29 answers · asked by Sammi 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
It wouldn't bother me personally...but I would expect to pay less for the house. I do believe it's market value is quite a bit less since a lot of the market would not consider buying it.
You may be in a great position to renegotiate...if you plan to flip the house in the short term...it's high risk.
If you are going to live in it long term...you can get a great deal
2007-02-15 06:43:48 · answer #1 · answered by Captain Jack 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can totally see that being an issue for a lot of potential buyers. I know that for some people of certain cultures, they wouldn't even consider buying it. I would expect it to decrease the value, unless the victim happened to be a famous celebrity. I mean, if Anna Nicole died there, you might have something, for example.
Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought that unnatural deaths in homes had to be disclosed by the sellers. Natural deaths, AIDS, need not be, but I really thought a murder had to be disclosed.
You might want to investigate that, and if you were supposed to have been told, that gives you an out to back out of the deal, if you want to.
And I'm not a religious or superstitious person in any way, but even I feel I'd probably be uncomfortable knowing someone was murdered in my home. I wouldn't personally buy it.
2007-02-15 06:46:49 · answer #2 · answered by Yanswersmonitorsarenazis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Safety - If the murder was a personal issue, like a spouse or boyfriend thing, it's probably not an issue. If it was a drive by/gang related thing, I would be concerned that it has not ended yet.
Re-sale - If it was a regular Joe that got murdered, it will lengthen the listing time and lower the price. If a celebrity killed his wife there, it will increase the value of the property.
Disclosure - In Texas, a murder on the property must be disclosed in the sellers disclosure. Not something to be found out later. Deaths of natural causes need not be disclosed (old age, cancer, aids)
2007-02-15 06:49:31 · answer #3 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
would not bother me but reselling to locals who know the history of the house would be hard. I should imagine the only way to get full market value would be to sell it to some one from away. I don't think you have to disclose the history of the house to new potential buyers unless they ask specifically for it though and once the sale has gone through it does not matter if they find out then. Go see the estate agents or a solicitor or go to the citizens advice they will be able to give you all the details but hold off signing any thing until you have checked every thing out fully (unless the house is dead cheap then go for it)
2007-02-15 07:00:39 · answer #4 · answered by katie r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whats happened in the house is nothing to do with the house,if you think its a good deal well that's the answer. The history will recede as the years go by, whatever. You know there are some really nice people living there now etc.
2007-02-15 06:45:10 · answer #5 · answered by Branded 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I could never do that. Every little noise or little bit of a draft coming through the windows would scare me.
I think it will decrease the value. Don't think many people would want to live in a house like that.
2007-02-15 06:51:48 · answer #6 · answered by carmen1509s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Texas you have to disclose if someone was murdered on the property. Did the sellers not tell you? If not then that unethicial. I can and will hurt the property value and resale. Hope your getting a great deal.
2007-02-15 06:51:36 · answer #7 · answered by melinda b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived in a flat where an Indian lady was murdered, thankfully I wasn't there long, but I don't think that it would decrease the value of your house. Good luck
2007-02-15 06:45:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gruesome it may sound, but I'd only be worried if it was the home of the murderer, I'd want to be sure that there were no other secrets in store. It wouldn't stop me buying, but I wouldn't go looking specifically for such a house.
2007-02-15 06:45:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I remember looking at a flat in HK 5 years ago, apparently, a serial killer butchered and cooked the victims in that flat. It was about 30% cheaper than other flats in the district and to this day it remain unsold,
2007-02-15 22:22:05 · answer #10 · answered by bluecow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋