Do you believe a property can be cursed if it has been a crime scene?

 

This was an interesting subject discussed in one of the major real estate investing forums a few years ago.  The responses were very revealing.

 

Some people, said ‘yes', certain things (like a murder) that happen on, or in a property can reduce values, while others laughed at the whole concept.

 

I lean both ways, depending upon the situation. 

My house is on a battlefield and now after 145 years, (Civil War) I guess it seems almost kind of romantic, if I’m using the right term there. I’ve often walked around my backyard trying to imagine what it was like then.

 

But yesterday, while I was driving over  to one of our properties to get it ready for renting,(this is a different property from last week), I passed a murder scene in a very nice upscale neighborhood.

 

A lawyer was found dead in an upstairs closet by the maid around 10:45 central time.

 

When I passed by, the crime scene investigators were just beginning to arrive.

 

Police were directing traffic, and the news people were already interviewing the neighbors from across the street. Incidentally, this house is right down the street from a former governor and a former senator.

 

The lawyer and his wife were going through a very difficult divorce and my guess is that the property will probably be sold at some point.

 

Will there be people who will not want to live there?  Yes. That’s an absolute fact.

 

There will be others who will look for the deal.  Will the house be reduced in price because of the murder?

 

Can we picture Donald Trump turning a good deal down because of a murder? Hardly.

 

My point about all of this is people can get superstitious real fast. Don’t think they won’t.

 

They’ll never admit it to a realtor but there are people who would not be able to go anywhere near that closet.  And I’m not just referring to the poor lady who found the lawyer’s body.

 

But if you can be more stoic about it, you may be able to get properties like this at a discount, especially if they stay on the market for a long time.

 

So what about the house?

 

After the yellow tape is finally removed,  a nice upscale house will still be there.

 

It wouldn’t be for me because I don’t like the architecture or design, (too much June and Ward Cleaver for my taste) but it is in an excellent location and would serve a family well.

 

But one thing to keep in mind is that properties do have histories just like people and nations.  Those histories can work for them or against them, especially if a crime has been involved.  

 

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