Agents/Brokers I want your take on this! If you know someone committed suicide in a property or was murdered in a property, would you disclose it? What if you were a transaction broker, and not a buyers agent? What about the listing agent? Would it matter if the property was going to be used for a childrens camp? What about if a pastor was going to purchase the property? Im not in a situation like this I just want others input for this topic. Do you have to disclose it by law or is it more a matter of ethics?

You are asking 2 different questions..what if a pastor bought one of these properties. Murders are in the news..not all suicides are. Any way what would it matter to a pastor on either? What if it waws for a children's camp? I think it is more of a matter of when it happened. We had a mass murder happed about 20-25 yrs ago and they had to tear down the house.

I think it may vary from state to state. I was under the impression that in PA at least you must disclose if there has been violent crime on the property - but I don't have my text book handy to look it up.

I think it does vary from state to state. It's just people die in houses all the time. I lost my son to a suicide 6 years ago,
so I sensitive on this subject. I apologize-I guess I shouldn't
have even replied.

In my state, you don't need to disclose violent deaths, but you do need to disclose ghosts....go figure.
I bought my house without realizing it had been the scene of a double murder some years previous. My neighbor sometimes asks me if I see ghosts here. Nope. Never have.

You'll never get in trouble for over-disclosing any issue you may be aware of or a rumor that the neighbor told you (just mention it's a rumor and you have no personal knowledge of the subject.)

You Disclose: C.Y.A. (cover your assets) and disclose unless you want to be exposed to personal liability and/or litigation costs as may be involved.

Litigation is normally commenced by plaintiffs who rightly or wrongly believe they were deceived and/or mistreated in some fashion.

You owe it to yourself to Be Safe and not sorry.

Important Notice: This information is provided as basic educational information by the author and is not a substitute for the advice of an expert and/or the advice of a lawyer. There is NO representation as to legality, accuracy, correctness of the herein information and the reader is strongly urged to consult a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction to ensure accuracy before acting on this information

I agree with Artiste, that its better to disclose and let the buyers make the decision. I just wanted others opinions on this. Jackie, you have a PM.

You should disclose it. They say when in doubt, it's better to disclose then not to.

Not all states have the same disclosure laws about ghosts, deaths or murder. First, follow the state laws, second, follow what you think is right.
I'd rather have a buyer hear it from me if I know about it, than a neighbor after they move in.

I think in PA we have to disclose if a property is rumored to be haunted.

I think it would be fun to list a haunted house, myself.

^^That devil smiley is too friendly. He doesn't look very evil. Just dopey. ha ha

Me too, Perky! (haunted listing)

To answer bposteve, if I'm repping a buyer--darn right I'm disclosing everything I can to them without, of course, crossing the protected classes rules.

We have a house for sale in our neighborhood now whose owner I was acquainted enough with to say Hello in the grocery store, partly because we'd been the listing agents when he bought.

We were told he died inside the house--nothing was mentioned about violence or suicide--but I did show it and I told the buyers that to our knowledge the owner died (without giving any details since I didn't know any details).

Ditto pikes peak--I'd definitely rather tell them myself than them hearing it from the neighbors after closing.

Here you have to disclose if it is a murder.Other than that you suicide and natural death do not need to be disclosed.Personally if I knew that someone died in a house from whatever causes I would tell my buyer.. We had a house with a violent murder took place and people bought it the moment it came on the market.. It doesnt bother some people..But me I dont think I could ever live in a house someone died in.

I think it'd be fun to list a haunted house - we could have a seance (sp?) at the open house....