The economics professor and blogger Tyler Cowen has a series of posts on how there’s Markets In Everything. This here blog might have to launch a similar feature on how there’s Real Estate Search Sites for Everything. Plenty of sites will tell you how to find a pad where everything’s in walking distance or where schools are excellent, but how many can claim to give you solid background info on whether you’re walking into a haunted house? Died In A House is there to serve just that…need.
As the site points out, sellers are often under no obligation to report a death — and that’s true in Massachusetts as well, as Rich Vetstein points out his post:
Under Massachusetts law, real estate brokers and sellers are under no legal obligation to disclose that a property was the site of a felony, suicide or homicide, or has been the site of an alleged “parapsychological or supernatural phenomenon,” i.e., a haunted house.
Of course, there is a darn good reason why potential buyers often want to know that a house has a dark past — homes associated with a well-known tragedy often sell at a discount compared to neighboring properties. (Having a specialty appraiser on your side can help.)
Of course, here in Massachusetts, it seems like you can’t kick over a rock without uncovering one of George Washington’s campsites. With so much history on our side, maybe we’ll just have to get used to ghosts. If you’re looking to get in touch with the spirit world, This Old House has a few properties for your perusal.
