Homebuyers

Did Someone Die in the Home You Want to Buy? How to Find Out

After months of house hunting, you’ve finally found it. A charming home on a quiet street. It has a front porch swing and picture-perfect hydrangeas. Even better, the price is just right.

Then a neighbor mentions, almost in passing, that someone once died there.

Those kinds of revelations can raise many questions for homebuyers. They may wonder about the property’s history and what the law requires you to disclose. Whether it’s a death, a crime, or another upsetting event, sellers’ disclosure duties vary widely across the country.

“When people shop for a home, they usually focus on things like schools, neighborhood safety, and flood zones,” said Roy Condrey, founder of the website DiedinHouse.com. “But almost no one thinks to ask if someone has ever died in the house.”

“Yet for many buyers, that kind of history can completely change how they feel about living there or even affect the property’s future value,” he said.

Homes where someone committed a murder often sell for less than market value. They may also come with a host of problems that buyers may not be anticipating.

Here’s what every homebuyer should know about uncovering a property’s history before they close.

Do homebuyers have the right to know if someone died in a home?

Much to the surprise of many buyers, no federal law requires sellers to disclose a death, murder, or violent crime linked to a home.

These homes are what the real estate industry calls “stigmatized properties.” They are residences that are not physically defective but might make buyers uneasy for psychological reasons.

Despite the creep factor, only a few states require disclosure of such events. In most of the country, sellers are under no obligation to bring them up unless directly asked.

Some states have laws that exempt deaths and crimes from disclosure. They say these events do not affect the property’s structure or safety.

Here’s a breakdown of the states with death or crime disclosure laws when buying or selling a home:

California: Sellers must disclose any death on the property within the past three years. If asked, they must answer truthfully about deaths beyond that period.

Alaska: The state requires disclosure of a murder or suicide if it happened within one year of sale.

South Dakota: The state requires disclosure of any homicide, suicide, or felony committed on the property within 12 months.

Delaware, Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Connecticut: These are “ask-and-answer” states. Sellers must respond truthfully if the buyer asks about deaths or crimes.

In these states, the seller does not have to disclose deaths, suicides, or crimes on the property. This is true even if you ask.

Texas: There is no duty to disclose deaths from natural causes, suicide, or accidents unrelated to property condition. You must make disclosures if a death relates to a structural defect.

Florida: Deaths, suicides, or crimes are not considered “material facts” under state law. No disclosure required.

Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Arizona: There is no requirement. Sellers and real estate agents are not liable for nondisclosure of deaths or crimes.

New York: No disclosure is required. State property law does not consider deaths or crimes to be material conditions.

Why homebuyers should care if someone died on a property

Homes tied to violent incidents can stay on the market longer and may sell for less when it’s your turn to list. In some instances, a crime or death can affect resale value by narrowing the pool of interested buyers.

Even buyers who aren’t superstitious may want to know about a property’s darker history.

“Some wouldn’t feel comfortable living where any death occurred, even a natural one,” said Condrey. “Others are fine with peaceful deaths but want to avoid properties linked to tragic events.”

Homes where someone was murdered may sell for 10% to 25% below market value. Randall Bell, CEO of Landmark Research Group, said this to New American Funding. Bell appraised the JonBenét Ramsey home, the condo where someone killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and Jeffrey Epstein’s homes.

If the crime got a lot of attention, the home may draw lookie-loos who stop to take photos. They may ring the doorbell and ask for a tour. Some may even try to sneak in.

Buyers may want to be aware of these potential hassles before going under contract.

Should you ask if someone was killed in a home?

Even in states that don’t require home sellers to volunteer whether someone died on the property, many have “ask-and-answer” rules. That means if a buyer raises the issue directly, the seller or their agent must respond truthfully.

It’s best to make the inquiry clear and in writing, either during the offer process or during due diligence.

Phrasing it clearly (“Are you aware of any deaths, homicides, or violent crimes that occurred on this property?”) helps establish a record and ensures the question can’t be brushed aside.

How to investigate if someone died on a property

If you want more certainty, or just peace of mind that nothing bad happened in your future home, you can check an address’s past.

Search public records. County court databases and online property records may show criminal cases, police reports, or lawsuits linked to the address.

Check local news archives: Use a newspaper database, local library archive, or Google News.

Search with the address or street name to find reports of past events.

Request information from police: Some departments let residents request “calls for service” records. These records show each time officers were sent to an address.

Ask neighbors: Longtime residents are often a valuable source of information. Make sure to approach the topic respectfully.

Use specialized databases: Paid services such as DiedInHouse.com compile data from public records and news sources to identify possible deaths linked to a property.

What sellers and agents can (and can’t) disclose about a home for sale

In states without explicit disclosure requirements, sellers often have discretion over what they disclose about a property’s history. Many opt to stay silent to avoid damaging their listing’s reputation.

In those states, real estate professionals usually avoid liability if they do not disclose information.

In jurisdictions that require disclosures—such as California, Alaska, or South Dakota—agents are obligated to ensure that any known event covered by the statute is reported on the seller’s disclosure form.

Since rules differ, buyers should check with the state real estate commission or consumer protection website for guidance. Buyers should not assume disclosures are automatic.

Knowing the full story of a home may give you leverage to negotiate a lower price or request concessions that may save you money. What you don’t want is to learn the truth after closing, when your options are limited.