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Our old homes in Portland had people previously die in them.... old age and all. But in an 90 year old home you expect some of that.
But murder & suicide had to be disclosed. I don't know if I would let either stop me from buying a house that I loved.... I think it would just depend on too many things to say.
But I agree w/ MikeJ.... even if it's not the law you should disclose it. As I've said before I really think NC's standard disclosure is meant to protect the seller and not the buyer.
Our old homes in Portland had people previously die in them.... old age and all. But in an 90 year old home you expect some of that.
But murder & suicide had to be disclosed. I don't know if I would let either stop me from buying a house that I loved.... I think it would just depend on too many things to say.
But I agree w/ MikeJ.... even if it's not the law you should disclose it. As I've said before I really think NC's standard disclosure is meant to protect the seller and not the buyer.
Actually, that was my broker's initial advice.
We never made a final commitment to a course of action, since the Seller said, "No," and it is required to follow a lawful instruction of the client.
Regardless, I decided not to list shortly after that.
But... To disclose something that could diminish the sales value or the opportunity to sell that is not a definitive material fact? That could well be considered a violation of the fiduciary duty owed to the seller by the agent.
I don't know how I'd feel about this situation if it were me... I do believe that hauntings and whatnot exist, although i'm not so sure I'd turn down a house because of it. We lived in an 80 yr. old colonial and who knows what had happened there. We loved the house and it loved us so that's all that matters.
What I don't understand is why is a suicide is different to a natural death in terms of the disclosure issue in some states? Murder I can understand - it's illegal and may have been a crime scene, etc. But suicide is not illegal (at least any more) so why is this cause for disclosure? It's a death just like if some one passed away in the home from a heart attack. It isn't automatically an ultra-violent situation.
Because suicide & murder are seen (by many) as events that could keep a soul hovering nearby or some sort of bad karma on the house or maybe it's a religious thing. It's just different to many whether you think it should be or not. It just feels different and does affect the way some people feel about that property (whether you think it should or not).
I have never in my entire life read anything so ridiculous -- that someone wouldn't buy a house because there was a suicide or murder in it.
Do you believe in GHOSTS?
I believe there are unexplained phenomena of many types. I've lived long enough to know weird things happen, and they have no explanation. I believe there are people who are highly intuitive (someone I recently met called them "knowers").
But OMG. Not to buy a house because of a death? How ridiculous. People are born. They live. They die. That's the way it goes.
It doesn't matter if you're a "knower" or not.
And I don't believe houses are cursed.
Ridiculous.
I'd buy the house.
Maybe the Realtor could do what works with kids who are afraid of monsters under the bed. Get some Lysol, call it "Anti-Monster" (or "anti-Dead-People") spray, and spray it all over the place, saying, "This will kill off those nasty monsters/spirits!"
Then everyone will live happily ever after.
Last edited by lovebrentwood; 07-29-2009 at 04:39 PM..
I'm a scientist and I don't give into emotional decisions typically. However! Buying a home is an emotional decision. You have to love it. Knowing there was a violent death in the house beforehand surely would color my impression of the home. For the OP, do what you think is best. Seems like folks are all over the spectrum here, but it's your money.
I have never in my entire life read anything so ridiculous -- that someone wouldn't buy a house because there was a suicide or murder in it.
Do you believe in GHOSTS?
I believe there are unexplained phenomena of many types. I've lived long enough to know weird things happen, and they have no explanation. I believe there are people who are highly intuitive (someone I recently met called them "knowers").
But OMG. Not to buy a house because of a death? How ridiculous. People are born. They live. They die. That's the way it goes.
If they keel over from a sudden massive heart attack, I buy the house.
If they've been chopped to bits by an axe murderer or they shot themselves in my future living room...no
I do believe in ghosts.
Ridiculous? Maybe. But it's partially about resale and partially about the creepy factor.
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