Would you purchase a house where a murder occurred?

Buying & Selling Real Estate

Would you purchase a house where a murder occurred?

Julie MarquezPro Member

Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes

Before my life of BP, I found a great deal through the MLS on a house in an older A/B+ neighborhood. It was vacant, so we wander the property for a long while checking it out. I then went home and checked country records for anything odd. Next I googled the current owner of the home, only to find recent news articles finding him guilty of killing his wife in the home (she didn't actually "fall down the stairs" like his first account stated). Being that he was going to jail, his property was up for sale at a good price. I thought a long time about whether or not we should buy the house, I mean, it was a great deal in a great location! But his name and his story would always be attached to the home, so whether I lived there, rented it, or tried to sell it, I just couldn't detach from this horrific story. I know we should remove some emotions from the real estate business, but would you have bought this home? Why or why not?

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Russell BrazilBusiness Member

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Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes

10y

No disclosure requirements in Maryland for murders, ghosts, etc.

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Joel OwensBusiness Member
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Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
10y
No for me. Peace of mind is worth more to me than a potential upshot of money at any price. A place like that doesn't have good mojo.
A problem I often see is these types of properties are slightly discounted because of an issue. You can't buy something like this slightly discounted you need to get a lot off to compensate.
Some other people will buy anything to make a buck.
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Dustin Beam
Kansas City, MO · Member since 2015 · 609 posts · 321 votes
10y
Keep in mind, I have not basis for this, but if the price was good enough, I wouldn't be held back from buying. But only if it's a great deal compared to what it would normally cost. JMO, YMMV, etc
0 Reply
Robert Nason
Lowell, MA · Member since 2014 · 260 posts · 99 votes
10y
I had a similar situation last year. A few days before closing on this property I googled the address looking for pictures of the property when I came upon a News article of a murder at the building two years prior. I asked the owners directly if there any criminal activity at the building that I would need to know about and they should me nothing ever happened there. I went through with the purchase anyway but it is come up a couple times already when showing the apartments.
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Chris Washington
Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2016 · 62 posts · 52 votes
10y
I personally don't care about purchasing a property where a violent crime occurred, but the issue is disclosure. Some states require disclosure to potential buyer/renter up to 3 years after the violent crime occurred. It sounds like your crime was recent, so 3 years is a long time away.
Given that the crime was recent, I likely would have passed on this property as well.
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Ron Menard
Wholesaler · Scarborough, ME · Member since 2016 · 9 posts · 3 votes
10y
Life happens...the good and the bad. I would not hesitate to buy a 'scarred' property, however I would also apply a heavy discount to the value of the property a fashion my offer accordingly.
That being said, you need to weigh other factors that might influence the recurrence of a crime in the building like location, trending of the neighborhood etc...as well as how recent the crime was committed.
The decision cannot be made in a vacuum, and the factors are both objective and subjective. So there's not right or wrong answer, other than what works for you.
1 Reply
Julie MarquezPro Member
OP
Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes
10y
@Joel Owens Yeah, I'm with you, the peace of mind not walking past the stairs where she was found dead.
@Dustin Beam I don't know our disclosure laws, but I know that news on the internet last forever. In 10 years it would probably be nothing, but this house purchase would have been from the killer himself.
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Robert Nason
Lowell, MA · Member since 2014 · 260 posts · 99 votes
10y
It didn't bother me as much as the deception by the previous owners. It was my intent to re-tenant entire building anyway. I wish I would've known well in advance perhaps I would have used it as a negotiation tool. It has not negatively impact good my ability to obtain quality tenants as the building is well situated and in very good condition.
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Russell BrazilBusiness Member
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Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
10y
We had a house here where 3 owners in a row were murdered in the house. You can't make this stuff up, and it is in a high income high value area. The last time the house sold, after the last guy was murdered in it....the agent actually had to have the house renumbered with the county to get it to sell. No one would touch it, but as soon as the address was changed, people were not able to look up the history of the house easily and it finally sold, after about a year. Houses in that neighborhood typically sell in 7 days.
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1 Reply
Jason Hirko
Lender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
I backed out of closing on a house where someone died jumping from a second story window during a small fire. It had happened 30 years before, but it still bothered me. My wife thought I was crazy, but if you aren't comfortable with something, it's not for you!
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Julie MarquezPro Member
OP
Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes
10y
@Russell Brazil That's a crazy story!! But a good solution to renumber the home, and then I assume that it didn't need to be disclosed either?
@Jason Hirko It's all about your personal comfort level, but I'd rather not even have a home that might creep out future renter or buyers.
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David Faulkner
Investor · Orange County, CA · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
10y
Sure, if it is in a A/B neighborhood where murders are uncommon and the price and everything else about the property was right, why not? What would you or future tenants be afraid of? Ghosts? Potential for ghosts don't factor into my investment criteria and not sure I'd want tenants that have that as their part of their rental criteria either.
1 Reply
Russell BrazilBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
10y
No disclosure requirements in Maryland for murders, ghosts, etc.
[email protected]301-893-4635 Podcast Guest on Show #192
District Invest Group546 Reviews
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4 Reply
Georgia H.
Investor · Catonsville, MD · Member since 2013 · 65 posts · 17 votes
10y
@Russell Brazil you are to funny!
1 Reply
Jamie Kenerson
Real Estate Agent · Gaithersburg, MD · Member since 2015 · 24 posts · 4 votes
10y
No for me personally. Or I'd be sure to have someone perform a sage!
0 Reply
James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes
10y
Originally posted by @Julie Marquez:

Before my life of BP, I found a great deal through the MLS on a house in an older A/B+ neighborhood. It was vacant, so we wander the property for a long while checking it out. I then went home and checked country records for anything odd. Next I googled the current owner of the home, only to find recent news articles finding him guilty of killing his wife in the home (she didn't actually "fall down the stairs" like his first account stated). Being that he was going to jail, his property was up for sale at a good price. I thought a long time about whether or not we should buy the house, I mean, it was a great deal in a great location! But his name and his story would always be attached to the home, so whether I lived there, rented it, or tried to sell it, I just couldn't detach from this horrific story. I know we should remove some emotions from the real estate business, but would you have bought this home? Why or why not?
Wouldn't bother me personally as I am not superstitious and that sort of stuff doesn't way in on my mind. However it does others which of course effects resale value as many people are superstitious.
There is also a direct correlation between how religious a person is and how superstitious a person is. When looking at the property as something you may want to sell in the future it may be a good idea to look into the types of people living in that general area. Buying a property in the bible belt that had a murder occur may be riskier than buying a similar property in other areas.
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Thomas S.
Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
10y
I would have no problem buying the property. For the right price I would even dispose of the body. Death and cat pee both smell like money to me..
4 Reply
James Wise
Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes
10y
Originally posted by @Thomas S.:

I would have no problem buying the property. For the right price I would even dispose of the body. Death and cat pee both smell like money to me..
Living in the home is one thing but disposing of the body, not enough money in the world to do a job like that.
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Julie MarquezPro Member
OP
Investor · Skagit County, WA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 807 votes
10y
@James Wise Good thoughts there, it can all depend on your market and what other people think about a death. Apparently, some people like @Thomas S. would love the opportunity! I, on the other hand, would just rather pass for the next deal.
1 Reply
Corina Eufinger
Rental Property Investor · Oconomowoc, WI · Member since 2016 · 996 posts · 431 votes
10y
It all comes comes down to if there is required disclosure for me. If she were murdered in the stairwell I could spend some extra money changing the staircase for my own conscience. I worry about being able to sell it to a renter or buyer if disclosure is required. Some people if you tell them that you rehabbed the area of the murder might not mind the occurrence. ...to some people out there the murder may be a selling point...which is a whole different discussion...
1 Reply
Bhekizwe M.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 253 votes
10y
Like @Thomas S. and @Ron Menard, i would have no problem buying the property.i see it as a subjective factor that new management can overcome
0 Reply
Kris Mcfarlane
Rental Property Investor · Chilliwack, B.C. · Member since 2015 · 115 posts · 37 votes
10y
@Thomas S. Cat pee is my specialty; the uglier, messier, ect the better! Three murders in one house - that is unreal!
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
Moderator
Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
10y
No, lots of better options.
0 Reply
James K.
San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 48 posts · 22 votes
10y
1 murder? No big deal. 3 separate owners were murdered? I might just let that one go.
0 Reply
Tim G.
Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
As a rental I wouldn't really care, I couldn't see it panning out well on a flip.
0 Reply
Sean Reilly
Commercial Real Estate Appraiser · Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 6 votes
10y
I think that if you are feeling that way about the property then others will have similar reactions to the property as well. Trust your gut and remember one deal won't make or break you
1 Reply

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