Stigmatized house?

[larryhaskell]

Just got a request to appraise a house in the Lake Tahoe area. The seller just completed a second high profile trial for murdering his wife. First trial had a hung jury and the second resulted in a conviction. He is now in the pokey. The murder did not take place in the house. He drove his truck over a cliff with his wife strapped in and jumped out on the way down. He claimed his brakes failed. Jury didn't buy it. Would anyone consider the house as stigmatized. I have my thoughts but don't want to influence anyone replying.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

I wouldn't think anyone would think of the house as stigmatized. Perhaps it would help you to discuss the issue with "honorable" Realtors and other people whose opinion you value. Anybody that knows what happened, in my opinion, would be hoping to just get a good buy at someone else's expense.

By the way, How Much? :lol: We've been in Reno many times. My brother-in-law practiced law in Carson City for many years and lived much of the time in Reno. I love it there and have several friends who live there. One of them runs a horse boarding stable and the other is a professor at Univ. of Nev. at Reno (I think that's it?). Anyway, we have always said we would love a second home out that way!

In my opinion, the only stigmatized thing would be if something awful happened in or near the house itself. Even our local little town, several years ago a homeowner committed suicide in his (now vacant) home in a hall closet. A Realtor came along and showed the house and they all discovered him when she flung open the closet door. Of course, she did a pretty good job of getting the "lookers" to the front yard while she called the police, but even in this case, the house sold for pretty much what market value demanded and has never suffered a "stigma." When I was selling real estate (many years ago) only one time did I ever have anyone ask if anyone "died" in the home, as they had a fear of that.

 

[Wally Jones]

I would think any stigma attached to the house due to current events would be short-lived. Is there a contract? How does it compare to the current market? Unless there is obvious market reaction to the event and buyer's start backing out, it seems it would be difficult to adjust for such a stigma in this case. Depending on how the offering price relates to the existing market, you might even be able to make a case for "reverse stigmatization". Some folks would love the notoriety. "Oh, yes, this is the garage where the murder vehicle was kept."

You might also do a search on the forum for stigmatized houses. There was an earlier discussion that had some good ideas. (Or was that on the old forum? Sheesh, what day is it anyhow??)

Good luck. 8)

 

[Mountain Man]

I agree. Not much, IF any, stigma on the house. I bet you would have a hard time measuring or proving a market reaction just because someone lived there that is now in jail.

The truck however.... :lol:

 

[Bemis Pownall]

no stigma to house only the dude in the pokey and his truck

I think I saw that on 60 minutes or one of those news shows.
Glad they got him!

 

[Oregon Doug]

Larry - not likely.....unless the jury was hanged in the house.

Oregon Doug

 

[Ross (CO)]

Sure does sound like this house is 100% innocent. The house was not even an accomplice. Cut the house some slack, please. The dude whose butt is in the "big house" has all the stigma he can handle, and perhaps deservedly so. But please, the house is just what it always was, just a house, four walls and a roof with a bunch of rooms and windows. No reason to embelish it nor reason to run it into the ground. Just let it be a house for as many years as diligent care and worthy inhabitants will allow that to happen !