Stigmatized property

The Museum of the History of Tenerife, known locally as the Lercaro House, is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a young woman, the eponymous Catalina Lercaro.

In real estate, stigmatized property is property that buyers or tenants may shun for reasons that are unrelated to its physical condition or features.[1] These can include death of an occupant,[1][2] murder,[1][2] suicide,[2] previous illicit activities, and even the belief that a house is haunted.[3]

Controversy exists regarding the definitions of stigma and what sorts of stigma must be disclosed at sale. It is argued that the seller has a duty to disclose any such history of the property. This, in practice, falls into two categories: demonstrable (physical) and emotional. Local jurisdictions vary widely in their interpretation of these issues and occasionally contradict federal law.

  1. ^ a b c Tomei, Marilyn E. (Spring 1992). "ANSWERLINE: STIGMATIZED PROPERTIES" (PDF). Real Estate Bulletin. 23 (1). North Carolina Real Estate Commission: 5.
  2. ^ a b c "Title XL > Chapter 689 > Section 25: Failure to disclose homicide, suicide, deaths, or diagnosis of HIV or AIDS infection in an occupant of real property". 2011 Florida Statutes. The Florida Senate. 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Reilly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).