Do Real Estate Agents have to disclose if someone died in a house that is for sale (RE agent, disclosure)

[sueinge]

I am sure it varies state to state, but in my house search in the Tampa area I came across a house that I liked very much. I have a link to the sheriff's office website to search police activity in neighborhoods just to see what kind of things are going on. I was looking in one neighborhood and to my surprise, the exact house in this neighborhood that I like says "Death Investigation" in May and a case number. I can probably find out what happened thru my agent, but it got me thinking about this and I was wondering if RE agents have to disclose if someone dies in a house. I mean, I know people die all of the time, and lots die at home, but what if it was a homicide? I guess all of the neighbors would tell someone AFTER they bought the house. I really don't want to live in a house where something weird happened there. In this house, the pictures show little kids rooms so it isn't an elderly couple or anything which if that was the case then I would expect a death to be a reason to sell. This property was just listed so the death in the home prompted the sale. Does anyone know what the rules are about disclosure in FL? Thanks!

[Mike Peterson]

No. Pursuant to Section 689.25, Florida Statutes, a homicide, suicide or death needn’t be disclosed to a prospective buyer in a real estate transaction because it’s not a material fact that requires disclosure.

This doesn't mean you can't ask what happened of course. It could give you extra leverage in negotiating.

[TexasHorseLady]

In Texas, we must disclose only if the death was related to the house (a fall down stairs, a faulty heating unit that caused a death, something like that). If someone simply died of old age or illness in the house, we're not required to disclose, and if it was HIV/AIDS-related, we're not allowed to disclose.

[Barking Spider]

I inspected a house up for auction once and there was an odd stain on the floor, and wall in a bedroom. A neighbor came over while I was going through the house and told me the owner had shot herself in the bedroom. No one bothered to clean up the mess. I asked the auction guy and he just shrugged his shoulders.

[Mike Peterson]

Originally Posted by Barking Spider

I inspected a house up for auction once and there was an odd stain on the floor, and wall in a bedroom. A neighbor came over while I was going through the house and told me the owner had shot herself in the bedroom. No one bothered to clean up the mess. I asked the auction guy and he just shrugged his shoulders.

Those are some of the hardest stains to get up.
Probably why they just decided to leave it for the buyer.

[sueinge]

[DMenscha]

In CA any death in the home in the past 3 years must be disclosed and what's really weird is if AIDS was the cause of death, you can't disclose that.

My wife is a Hospice nurse and natural (painless) death in a home is exactly what they try to achieve.

[Silverfall]

In Oregon we are not required to diclose any deaths in the home regardless of the cause.

[Rakin]

We just sold a house here in DFW where a suicide occurred. While the seller did not have to disclose by state law, she did include it on the disclosure. We also made the buyer sign that he knew of the death.

All of this was done as a law suit preventer.

There would be nothing as bad as someone buying a home and then the next day all your neighbors telling you about the guy that shot himself in the master bedroom. The place even gave me the creeps.

Also, we sold an aunts home where 25 years earlier her partner committed suicide. It was not disclosed since it was so far back in history.

[did0c]

I'm in TX. and when we bought our house we asked if any "violent crimes and or death had occured in the home." The Seller said no. I wouldn't of wanted the house if something had happened.