Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

Disclosure of murder in a real estate property

My wife and I recently found a home in PA that we decided was an ideal piece of property to purchase. Initially, we had a bidding war with another party, and were told we did not get the home. A few days later we were informed the other party backed and the home could be ours. We had a home inspection, and found there were a few things that needed to be done. We were ok with investing the money for improvements, as we were paying a price that was somewhat reasonable. We requested that we lease the property until settlement, so we could start slowly moving in. When we went to the house to discuss the lease terms with the listing agent, we found out some disturbing news. The reason the home had been on the market was the woman who lived there previously was brutally murdered in the home. We would not have bought the house, particularly at the price we paid, had we know that this was a murder crime scene less than a year ago. We were even told by the listing agent that they had a tough time getting people to even look at the house as a result of the murder. The realtor does not want to let us out of the agreement. What type of legal action can we take against the realtor, if any?


Asked on 9/15/03, 9:41 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gerald Hershenson Law Office of Gerald M. Hershenson

Re: Disclosure of murder in a real estate property

The issue you describe is difficult to review without speaking with you in depth and reviewing the agreement of sale. I suggest you attempt to be released from the agreement of sale. You may have a cause of action against the realtor. However, this would be contingent on many factors. I suggest you consult an attorney. Gerald M. Hershenson 215-579-9390

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Answered on 9/15/03, 10:14 am


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