The Challenges of Selling a Home with a Violent History
For prospective homebuyers, the knowledge of whether a property has been the site of a violent crime or tragic event can be crucial. In Spain, however, there is no legal requirement for sellers to disclose such information. This lack of obligation can lead to significant consequences in the real estate market, where properties associated with criminal events often experience prolonged selling times and price reductions ranging from 15% to 50%, according to real estate analysts.
In extreme cases, homes linked to highly publicized tragedies may remain unsold indefinitely. A notable example is the villa in Teo, A Coruña, owned by Rosario Porto, where her daughter Asunta Basterra tragically lost her life. Valued at one million euros, this expansive property, featuring five bedrooms and five bathrooms, has stood vacant for over a decade. After incidents involving squatters and a fire, its value has plummeted, with offers as low as 30,000 euros reported by Porto's former lawyer, who deemed such offers insulting.
Similarly, the sale of a home in Majadahonda, Madrid, where Bruno Hernández Vega committed heinous acts against his aunt and another woman, was delayed for ten years. Under Spanish law, a person can only be declared deceased after a ten-year period if their body cannot be located. Ultimately, the property, a three-story, 130-square-meter home that underwent renovations, sold for 290,000 euros, despite its market value being estimated at over half a million euros based on local rates.
Another case involves a property in Plaza de Felipe II, Madrid, which struggled to find a buyer for three years following a gruesome murder. The crime involved a young man disguised as a plumber who killed his mother and attacked other family members in 2003. The complexity of the legal situation, including the need for disinheritance following the conviction, further complicated the sale. Eventually, the property sold for 1.5 million euros, but it could have fetched a higher price.
In Spain, about 23% of the more than 300 homicides and murders reported annually occur within the victim's home, with an additional 21% happening at family residences, according to the Ministry of the Interior's crime statistics portal.
Aside from the challenges of selling such properties, there is also the ethical dilemma of disclosure. While there is no legal obligation to inform potential buyers about a home's violent past, experts suggest that doing so could preserve trust and integrity in real estate transactions. For instance, a real estate agent in Segovia chose to inform a client about a disturbing event involving a previous tenant who had been arrested for holding a child captive in the rental property. Despite the unsettling history, the agent successfully rented the property within a week.
When a crime becomes widely reported, selling the property can become even more complicated, necessitating creative marketing strategies. One agent in Madrid resorted to home staging to revamp a property where a murder had occurred, transforming it into a fresh and appealing space. The approach proved successful, as the home sold within 20 days.
In the United States, the situation is similar. Despite a common belief that sellers must disclose violent incidents, no such legal requirement exists. Websites like Died in House provide potential buyers with information about deaths that have occurred in specific properties. A notable case is the house in Beverly Hills where the Menendez brothers murdered their parents; this property has seen its value decrease significantly since the crime.
In another infamous case, the house where actress Sharon Tate was murdered in 1969 was demolished due to the stigma associated with its history. A new mansion was subsequently built on the site, which was rented out at a substantial monthly fee.
