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Is the death in the house a dealbreaker for you or just a point of curiosity? If the latter, maybe ask after the contract is signed. You might be more likely to get an honest answer (if it's affirmative) if they aren't concerned it could kill the deal.
the OP could certainly tell the owner they'd like to buy it, but also include representation from the agent. It's a matter of how much experience the sibling and the OP have with property transactions in this locale.
But as to the original question, the answer remains "no obligation".
No obligation. But if you want to pursue, pehaps negotiate a 1% commission to your buyer’s agent and have the agent help with processing the documents.
You can simply ask the seller where the death occurred if that matters to you. I did home hospice for my late husband and our state asked if there was a death in the house. I answered honestly but it didn’t deter the sale.
I viewed a property that was on the market for over a year (the previous owner had died, and a sibling was selling it) with my buyer's realtor, but didn't act on it in time. It later went under contract and closed. At that point, I sent a note to the buyer - as I sometimes do - asking to be notified if it went up for sale again. That new owner died a few months later, and now yet another sibling is selling it, found my note, and contacted me, proposing a private sale. Two questions: am I obligated to notify/use/pay my (former) realtor who initially showed me the house, and b) is the now-seller required to disclose whether or not the deceased owner - or anyone else - died inside the house (I believe that it is in a formal real estate transaction), or do either of these situations vary by state? Thank you.
Maybe someone can answer this - wouldn't the original contract terminate when the other party deceased? Not sure I've ever heard of a listing contract with a succession clause
Maybe someone can answer this - wouldn't the original contract terminate when the other party deceased? Not sure I've ever heard of a listing contract with a succession clause
The buyer's agent didn't die. That's who the OP may have had an old obligation with.
I don't think anyone is suggesting there is/was an ongoing contractual obligation with anyone at the house.
OP - I would say IF you need any help or advice in researching, offering, negotiating terms or completing the purchase now, it would be good for you to give that opportunity to the original buyer's agent, and work a fee in to the purchase if you wish.
As for whether someone passed in the home... I would ask yourself why it matters before pushing it with surviving family members.
I viewed a property that was on the market for over a year (the previous owner had died, and a sibling was selling it) with my buyer's realtor, but didn't act on it in time. It later went under contract and closed. At that point, I sent a note to the buyer - as I sometimes do - asking to be notified if it went up for sale again. That new owner died a few months later, and now yet another sibling is selling it, found my note, and contacted me, proposing a private sale. Two questions: am I obligated to notify/use/pay my (former) realtor who initially showed me the house, and b) is the now-seller required to disclose whether or not the deceased owner - or anyone else - died inside the house (I believe that it is in a formal real estate transaction), or do either of these situations vary by state? Thank you.
After this long you aren’t beholden to the agent. It’s really up to you if you want to use a agent. But dont expect the seller to agree if theire saying they only want a private sale. They don’t want agents involved cause they don’t want to pay that high commission. You may have to pay the commission out of pocket.
The death thing is state specific, unless you’re a superstitious type or can’t live in a house where someone died it wouldn’t personally stop me from buying the house. Call a priest to exorcise the house if you’re worried.
Or maybe you contact the agent and ask if they will help navigate the fsbo with you. Get the transaction done with the least amount of hassles.
That generally runs $1-2k, from what I understand (just doing the paperwork side of things). I've actually bought four houses and sold three; in none of those cases have I used a realtor, nor was the house I bought on the market at the time (I'm a big believer in letting current owners know I'm interested or else it's been through word of mouth before the property was listed). So it almost seems meant to be that this one is now also FSBO.
"As for whether someone passed in the home... I would ask yourself why it matters before pushing it with surviving family members."
Well, some believe in bad karma or vibrations in particular properties if one is plagued with a tragic past -- such as two owners in succession dying prematurely and possibly violently, not to say "ghosts." Perhaps there's some environmental toxin in the house that adversely affects inhabitants. I just find it a strange coincidence and wonder about the history. Surely in the age of the Internet it's a matter of public record where and how someone dies? I've Googled, but no news articles. I have, in the past, discovered by doing so that, for instance, someone was murdered in a home or, in another case, died in a house fire there (it had since been repaired). I'm not saying I do believe in "cursed properties," but as I say, I'm now curious to know.
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