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Are Real Estate Agents required to disclose a haunted house?

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Real Estate Broker/Owner with Realty Concierge International MA #9535680 RI#REB0019277

Have you ever been asked if the house you are showing is haunted or if someone died there? I was once asked this question at a house I was selling that was over 200 years old.  My initial thought when asked was, I would imagine that in that timeframe 'someone' must have died there. 

This prompted me to find out how to handle such a question in the future.  

According to Massachusetts Law (Ch. 03, Section 114 Stigmatized Property Law) 'you are not required to disclose suspected paranormal activity or deaths that happened on a property. These situations fall under the psychologically impacted property statute. Essentially, a death or paranormal activity at the property is not a material fact under the law to be disclosed to potential buyers. 

You do not have a duty to investigate or proactively disclose information about murders, suicides, paranormal phenomena, or other potential stigmas associated with the property. However, if a prospective buyer directly inquires about these events, a REALTOR® is obligated to provide a truthful answer. If you do not know the answer or if the buyer requests additional information, REALTORS® should guide the buyer to an appropriate resource.'

Some Appropriate Resources for property information

  • My resource for buyers has always been to have them contact the local police department and ask about any activity at the property and its immediate neighborhood.  
  • Another good idea is to google the address and see what may pop up.  This has been a good source of information as well. 
  • I've had buyers speak with a neighbor and ask questions about the house and neighborhood
  • When reading a Realtor.com article, it referenced a website (DiedinHouse.com) that, for a fee, will search a property to check for history of a death at the property, check sex offender list within proximity of property, check history for meth activity such as labs, dumpsters or chemical seizures, check for fire activities at property and proximity to Cemetaries from property.  

Every State is different so check your state's laws!

Posted by

 


Kelly McGovern, Broker/Owner

Realty Concierge International
Mobile: (508) 331-7158
eFax: (877) 491-3766
Email: Info@KellyMcGovern.Realtor
Website: http://www.RealtyConcierge.Realtor
9535680

Comments(7)

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Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Good Morning Kelly and thank you for the interesting blog on haunted houses.  I have to recheck our law again in Colorado

Oct 14, 2025 08:23 AM
Kelly McGovern

Will Hamm , Thanks!  Has anyone ever asked you the question before?  I've listed and sold a good number of antique homes, so I've had that question posed a few times :) 

Oct 14, 2025 08:41 AM
Nancy Pav
CENTURY 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
You "gotta have Pav"!

Your resources are a great reminder of where to send buyers when they ask those questions.

Oct 14, 2025 08:36 AM
Kelly McGovern

Nancy Pav , Thanks!  The website I found after reading that realtor.com article was particularly interesting!

Oct 14, 2025 08:40 AM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Kelly McGovern 

We are required to divulge any and all factual information we know about the property. I like the links you have provided.

Oct 14, 2025 09:22 AM
GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thank you for the great information in your blog today to share with us here on the Rain. Make it a terrific day! bill 

 

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Oct 14, 2025 11:11 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have never asked that question, and I seem to recall that it is something we aren't necessarily allowed to disclose either, haha.

Oct 15, 2025 06:21 AM
Kelly McGovern

Brian England It is interesting the different rules across state lines.  Here in MA, if we are asked the question and we know the answer, we must disclose.  If we know and the question is never asked, we don't disclose. 

Oct 15, 2025 07:11 AM
Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Sorrento, FL
Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®

Good morning Kelly McGovern, I see nothing, I hear nothing, I did not hear anything so there is nothing to disclose, lol

Oct 15, 2025 08:53 AM
Lew Corcoran
Better Living Real Estate, LLC - East Bridgewater, MA
Expert guidance. Exceptional results.

Thanks for breaking down such a quirky yet important topic, Kelly McGovern. Your post was not only informative, but refreshingly practical. I really appreciate the way you laid out the legal side with a touch of real-world wisdom. Grateful you took the time to share this!

Oct 16, 2025 11:55 AM