# Would You Buy a House in Which a Murder Had Occurred? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 11, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785 "2010-06-11T12:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/21 "2010-06-11T15:01:05Z")
People who want tours of the murder scene could get one for a fee, and help offset my mortgage. Win win. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/22 "2010-06-11T15:08:44Z")
Female. If it wasn’t too famous, as others have said, and of course as long as everything was well cleaned up, it probably wouldn’t bother me. I just went shopping in our Target, where someone was murdered less than two weeks ago. At first I wondered how it would feel to be in there again, but it was quite easy to just get into the normal routine of life. I imagine it would be the same with a house. Also, I would be interested in the motivations for the crime and whether the killer was caught, for obvious reasons. One reason Target feels a-OK is that the perp offed himself - no chance of a return visit. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/23 "2010-06-11T15:13:16Z")
The last time I bought a previously owned house in Texas there was a disclosure of any “unnatural” deaths in the house (there weren’t any). I did know a couple who bought a house not long after the home owner was murdered there. In a bizarro “coincidence”, one spouse committed “suicide” right in front of the other spouse. I moved away and don’t know how or if they were able to sell that house with _two_ unnatural deaths back to back like that. I don’t think I would want to buy a murder–suicide house. Too much bad juju for me. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/24 "2010-06-11T15:18:41Z")
I’d do it after negotiating hard on the price. Even a famous murder wouldn’t deter me I’m already thinking of the Halloween display I’d put on it would be very easy to turn something like that into a haunted house once a year and make kids wet themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/25 "2010-06-11T15:21:39Z")
I would, I think that it would be cool if it was actually haunted. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/26 "2010-06-11T15:43:44Z")
Why not? I used to live in [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Dale_Conklin)guy’s apartment. No one would rent it until I came along. $300 for a 2br/2ba townhouse in 1984 was just right for a 21yo kid. I stopped telling girls about it after they refused to come over… ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/27 "2010-06-11T15:56:33Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > People who want tours of the murder scene could get one for a fee, and help offset my mortgage. Win win. And if there are still splatters on the wall, that’s an extra couple of bucks on the ticket price right there! ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/28 "2010-06-11T16:06:55Z")
Towards the bottom of this page is the ‘Here and now Radio’ story on these houses [http://www.hereandnow.org/2010/06/rundown-68/#5](http://www.hereandnow.org/2010/06/rundown-68/#5) There is also this link to some pics of wonderful houses. [http://photo.newsweek.com/content/photo/2009/7/photos-does-murder-devalue-real-estate.html](http://photo.newsweek.com/content/photo/2009/7/photos-does-murder-devalue-real-estate.html) I’d have no issues living in such houses but would hesitate to buy one considering how difficult it can be to resell them. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/29 "2010-06-11T16:23:56Z")
Assuming the murder in question did not occur because the house was in a high-crime district, sure. The owner’s husband died in the bedroom of our first house. Who cares? Although I might use it to get a break on price. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![RedBloom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dbc845/32.png) [@RedBloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedBloom)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/30 "2010-06-11T16:51:52Z")
There’s a house that’s been sitting empty for 2 years in the town I live in. A father bludgeoned his 4 kids and wife to death with a bat, then killed himself. They might end up tearing the place down… I sure as hell wouldn’t live there. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/31 "2010-06-11T17:17:40Z")
Male - Of course I would. I never had the death phobia that many people have. I recall in one of Janet Evanovich’s novels, the heroine, Stephanie has a couch and someone is murdered on the couch. Then she has to get rid of it 'cause now the couch has “death cooties” ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/32 "2010-06-11T17:42:05Z")
Nope. I know it’s illogical, but it would creep me out. Nope, nope, nope. (Female) ---
**Author:** ![canadiankorean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@canadiankorean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/canadiankorean)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/33 "2010-06-11T17:44:06Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > If the price was right, absolutely. > > I’m almost certain a woman died in our house previous to us owning it–the wife of the previous owner had died very young of cancer, and I think she may have gone home to spend her last days. The realtor disclosed to us that one of the previous owners had died–apparently people care about these things. I’m not superstitious like that, but it seems others are, because the house ended up going down almost $40K in price before we bought it…in 2003. A person dying from cancer or old age is different from a murder. I’m male and I would be hesitant with a murder house. Imagine if the murder took place in a frequently used part of the house. I would keep imagining what happened. What if the murderer is still free? and if that person has some weird desire to come back and relive the moment? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/34 "2010-06-11T17:49:19Z")
Sure, I see no reason why not to. Actually one amendment, the blood and gore have to have been cleaned up and repaired. I don’t fancy a hazmat issue before I move in! I have actually been past the Amityville house, back in the 80s when I had a long island boyfriend who lived in the area. The area is OK, and the swimming pool, boathouse, largeish yard and canal access are all bonus points though realistically I have no actual interest in moving to Long Island, or anywhere in the NY metropolitan area. If it were moved to Connecticut, somewhere on the LI Sound, I would have no problem in moving in there. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/35 "2010-06-11T17:56:10Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Towards the bottom of this page is the ‘Here and now Radio’ story on these houses > > [Here & Now](http://www.hereandnow.org/2010/06/rundown-68/#5) > > There is also this link to some pics of wonderful houses. > > [http://photo.newsweek.com/content/photo/2009/7/photos-does-murder-devalue-real-estate.html](http://photo.newsweek.com/content/photo/2009/7/photos-does-murder-devalue-real-estate.html) > I’d have no issues living in such houses but would hesitate to buy one considering how difficult it can be to resell them. I have seen more recent pictures of the Clutter farmhouse, back when it was on the market. It was very nice - the kitchen and bathrooms had been modernized. It was actually a custom build house when new, and considered exceptionally nice back then. If you didn’t know the history, it would be a fantastic place for a family. And that is a fantastic picture of the redone Amityville Horror house. Though I still liked the halfmoon windows from before. I would so try and put my computers and TV/hangout room in that windowed room at the back of the house overlooking the back yard. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/36 "2010-06-11T17:57:17Z")
I don’t believe in ghosts but I’ve got a really overactive imagination that I’m sure would fuck with me if I knew that a person had been murdered in my house. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/37 "2010-06-11T18:04:28Z")
Yeah, I probably wouldn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/38 "2010-06-11T18:26:45Z")
Single woman: It depends on how the house “felt.” I just bought a 260 year old house last year and while I don’t know if anyone was murdered there (maybe, it was seized under RICO 15 years ago), I’m sure plenty of folks have died in it over there years (and were buried in the back yard!). I must have looked at 30 houses before I bought this one. Several of them just had a bad feeling to them (IMO) so they were eliminated immediately. One felt so bad that I turned around and walked right out despite it having been at the top of my list (My realtor felt the same way - perhaps we fed each other’s insanity…). The minute I walked into the house I bought, I knew it was “the one” despite it having some problems. (70’s bathrooms!) And while there has been some unusual activity (let the mocking commence!), I absolutely love it and feel very comfortable in it. ---
**Author:** ![sherrylynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@sherrylynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherrylynn)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/39 "2010-06-11T18:40:17Z")
Depends - My husband died of cancer in my home. I still live here, no problem. Most people with a terminal illness want to die at home, so I don’t think that’s uncommon. > [@](#): > > There’s a house that’s been sitting empty for 2 years in the town I live in. A father bludgeoned his 4 kids and wife to death with a bat, then killed himself. Now, a house with this type of history?? No way!!! ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785/40 "2010-06-11T19:22:36Z")
It’s funny - there was a story in my local newspaper last week about a house in the area. The owner had been murdered by a family member, house was put on the market, sold to a new owner. When the new owner found out about it, he was very upset and tried to void the sale, but it was a legal sale and held. (I guess in our state they don’t have to disclose unless you specifically ask). Two years later, new owner is found murdered in the house :eek: I don’t think I would have a problem with one murder, esp. if the price were reduced, but don’t think I could handle two. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-buy-a-house-in-which-a-murder-had-occurred/542785.md?page=3)