Do Realtors have to disclose notorious events that occurred at a property?

Realtors are required to disclose material facts to home buyers. Is a murder or other notorious event a material fact?
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Do Realtors have to disclose notorious events that occurred at a property?
Take the case of a salesperson named Roscoe who has a client named Zane. Zane is a long time friend of the family and he listed his luxury condo for sale with Roscoe. Zane's condo is beautiful, immaculately clean and in a nice part of town. But things get a little complicated from here. Zane's condo was the site of a widely publicized and grisly murder of a celebrity who lived in Zane's building. The celebrity's body was found in Zane's second bedroom. As a result of the murder, Zane had weeks of bad dreams until finally he moved to a hotel and enlisted Roscoe's services. Roscoe put the condo on the market and shortly there after it sold at open house to Deanna. Deanna thought it was sort of cool to be connected to the celebrity. Roscoe kept in touch with Deanna through annual calendars and then a few years later when Deanna was ready to move she asked Roscoe to list the property. Roscoe listed the property for sale but he neglected to either disclaim or disclose the murder. Sally bought the condo and then one night while reading Wikipedia, she finds out that her home was the site of the celebrity's final moments on this earth.  Sally uses that room for her nursery. Since Deanna and Roscoe did not disclose the murder, does Sally have an action against Roscoe, Deanna or for that matter Zane? In the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is no requirement to disclose (or disclaim) "stigmatizing events". Stigmatizing events are events which have no physical affect on the property. So, whether the property was the site of a homicide, felony, or suicide, the seller and agent are not required to disclose the event.

We help our clients sell condos, houses and townhouses in {Location_Name}.

If you're interested in real estate in Alexandria VA, in Crystal City, in Arlington VA, in Falls Church VA or in Fairfax County VA, we're here to help. Please help yourself to our community guides and property search tools. Our property search tools rely on a database of the most up-to-date information available anywhere. Use these tools to search for condos or to search for any type of real estate available in Northern Virginia. Once you've identified a property, contact us and we're help here to you with all aspects of your home sale or purchase. Read our home buyer's tips & tools
If you want to sell your home, Nesbitt Realty is here to serve your needs in {Location_Name}. Our Realtors are experienced and familiar with the real estate market in {Location_Name}. A Realtor can help you determine the best listing price for your property. We know how to market your home to get the best price as quickly as possibly. Nesbitt Realty knows how the home selling process works, so we are ready to assist you every step of the way. Nesbitt Realty has access to the MRIS (our local multiple listing service). MRIS is the MLS database that agents use to find homes for sale in the area. Our agent will add your property to it. Working with a Realtor will make the home selling process run smoothly and much simpler than if you attempt to do it on your own. We're a local family-run business and we appreciate the opportunity to serve your needs. Learn more about selling your home
Buying your own home in {Location_Name} is on most people's bucket list, but there are times when renting might be the better choice.

Try Before You Buy

If you are not sure that a neighborhood is really best for you, or if you need time to assess an area before making a long term commitment, then your best option is trying before buying. If that is the case, then renting may be an excellent option for you. Renting gives you the opportunity to see if a neighborhood lives up to your expectations and suits your needs before you buy. For example, you can sign a one-year lease for a two-bedroom condo in Shirlington, with the option to extend the lease if you like the neighborhood.  If you do not like it, for example, a four-bedroom, two-story house in Lorton is more your style, then you have the option of relocating.

Pay as You Go

Many Americans live from paycheck to paycheck and renting a property in {Location_Name} can help you draw up a realistic budget and live within your means. Before signing a lease, you know what your rent will be and you can work this amount into your monthly budget. When you do your calculations, remember that you will need to pay a security deposit upfront and the rate depends on your credit score. If you have a good credit score, your property manager may only charge one month's rent. On the other hand, if you have a poor credit score your security deposit could be two months rent. Keep in mind that the security deposit is refundable if you meet the requirements of the move out inspection. Because rent is a fixed monthly cost, you will know exactly what portion of your income to allocate to rent and what portion remains for bills and other necessities. If you are realistic about the property you can afford to rent, then you will have money left over each month for fun expenditures, nightlife and personal hobbies.

Short-Term Commitment

Not sure if as a Washington DC commuting GS-5 you want to live in Northern Virginia? Do you dream of relocating to California and exploring Napa Valley, Los Angeles, and San Francisco? Are you an active duty member of the military with no idea of where your next assignment may take you? There are many reasons why people do not want to make a long term property commitment and renting means that you will not be tied down and makes it easier to move at a moment's notice. Or perhaps, you simply have no interest in the responsibility of becoming a homeowner? Then renting, as opposed to buying, could be the right choice for you. As a renter, you will not have to worry about footing the bill to repair a leaky roof, paying monthly condo fees, or paying for garden services to pick up the leaves from your Mount Vernon home. Renting a property can enable you to live the lifestyle you want without the responsibility and financial commitment of owning your own home.

Build Your Credit and Save for a Downpayment

Buying a house is a huge financial commitment. It is usually the biggest single purchase most people make in their lives. Renting a property and being a responsible tenant can help you achieve your ultimate goal of owning your own home. Paying your rent on time is an excellent way to build your credit score and  show lenders that you are capable of managing your money responsibly. If you are realistic about the rent you can afford, and you are frugal with your money, you can build up your savings for buying a house in the future. Renting will also make you aware of the true costs of owning a property and prepare you for the financial commitment and accountability of home ownership.

Roommates

Not everyone wants to live alone and sharing a house with friends can be fun and lead to priceless memories, but it also has the added advantage of being cheaper than going solo. However, it is worth remembering that choosing good roommates may be challenging. Just because you are good friends does not mean that you will be good roommates. This is an important piece of advice as nobody is perfect, and some of your friends may have annoying habits that you simply will not be able to live with, so think  carefully before asking someone to move in with you. There are many different neighborhoods in Northern Virginia that will meet your specific requirements for a neighborhood such as easy access to the metro, a main street vibe, or proximity to good school, and your needs in a property, like a certain architectural style, luxury features, and affordability.  With so many options to choose from it is worth asking an experienced Nesbitt Realty Realtor, like Stuart Nesbitt, who will help you find the perfect rental property.
Few people know that property management is a business both in and of itself. If you are interested in investing in real estate, and you do not know how to be or want to be a property manager in {Location_Name}, there is a rather simple solution: employ Nesbitt Realty services. The Nesbitt Realty family-run business is very experienced with the management of day-to-day operations of properties like yours. We manage residential properties including homes, condos, and townhouses. [Learn more now.] Agents with Nesbitt Realty are full-time, knowledgeable, and long-time locals.  
For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.
Real Estate Law,

Will Nesbitt

View posts by Will Nesbitt
Will is the principal broker of Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria. He is licensed in anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but focuses on those communities found in and around Alexandria, Arlington, Mount Vernon and Springfield/Franconia. Will has been involved in real estate management, sales and investment for more than twenty years. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. While in the army, he studied Russian at Monterey's Defense Language Institute. He is also a "veteran of the dotcom wars" and built most of the sites associated with NesbittRealty.com Will currently resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Old Town, overlooking New Alexandria. He is a former president of the Mount Vernon Youth Athletic Association and founded the Alexandria Fun with Friends Group. Will is the author of BattlestorM, a tabletop fantasy game, which was published by Ral Partha Publishing in the late '90's, and Arthur's Realm, a boardgame available at the Gamecrafter.