While death is something we all experience, some people have very strong feelings about living in a home where someone has died. Of course, unless you build a new home — and especially if you purchase a historic older property — the chances are high that someone passed away in their home at some point.
So, while you might not give another thought about the 85-year-old senior who fell asleep but never woke up again in their home, you might have quite a different reaction to living in a home where a gruesome suicide or murder took place.
What Arizona law has to say
According to state laws here, it’s more of a caveat emptor situation, or “let the buyer beware.” No realtor or home seller can face any penalties for failing to disclose natural deaths, homicides or suicides that occurred in or on the property.
The one exception is that if the potential buyer asks, they must tell the truth, as that could be considered withholding a material fact, e.g., the homeowner died of carbon monoxide poisoning, which could still be a hazard to the new residents.
Add legal counsel to your home-buying team
Not everyone knows or is expected to know all the intricacies of Arizona property buying rules, But there is no denying that knowledge gives you the power to negotiate for better terms if you have all the relevant facts associated with the property.
In addition to your appraiser and inspector, it is a prudent move to bring in your own legal counsel to protect your interests when making a substantial home purchase.
