What happens when your dream home has a dark past — a murder, suicide, or even a rumored haunting? Do sellers have to tell you? Do buyers have any recourse if they find out later? Let’s take a look at one case that turned a “dream home” into a real-life mystery.

The Story

A young couple in Pennsylvania thought they’d struck gold — a beautiful Victorian home on a quiet, two acre lot full of old growth trees. It checked every box on their wish list: space for a growing family, great schools nearby, and a price that seemed almost too good to be true.

They toured the home  and fell in love with the classic charm and big backyard. Nothing seemed unusual — the home inspection was clean, and the closing went off without a hitch.

Then, about a month after moving in, the couple was chatting with a neighbor who asked casually, “So… how do you like living in the murder house?”

At first, they laughed it off, assuming it was just small-town gossip. But later that evening, curiosity got the better of them. A quick internet search confirmed their worst fear — less than a year earlier, a murder-suicide had taken place in the very home they’d just bought.

Shocked and feeling deceived, the buyers filed a lawsuit against the sellers and listing agent, arguing that the gruesome history should have been disclosed. The case, Milliken v. Jacono (Pa. Supreme Court, 2014), made national headlines and eventually reached the state’s highest court.

The final ruling? The court sided with the sellers and agent, finding that while the event was undeniably tragic, it wasn’t a material defect that affected the home’s physical condition. In short: they had no legal duty to disclose. The murder-suicide, though unsettling, didn’t change the structure, safety, or functionality of the home.

What About Virginia?

In Virginia, the same principle applies. The law focuses on the physical condition of the property — not its history. Sellers and agents are required to disclose things like water intrusion, foundation cracks, or malfunctioning systems — but not events that fall into the category of “stigmatized.”

Under Virginia Code § 55.1-713, incidents such as a homicide, suicide, or felony on the property are defined as non-material facts. That means sellers are not obligated to volunteer that information. However, if a buyer asks directly, honesty is required — a seller or agent cannot lie or mislead.

What Buyers and Sellers Should Know

• Stigmas aren’t defects. A tragic event or haunting rumor doesn’t legally require disclosure in Virginia.

• Ask if it matters to you. Buyers should feel empowered to ask directly about a property’s history if it’s important to them.

• Honesty still matters. Sellers can’t conceal or misrepresent facts when asked.

• Focus on what’s physical. What truly affects value are the tangible issues revealed in inspections, not neighborhood lore.

A Halloween Takeaway

Buying or selling a home can sometimes feel spooky — especially when rumors or history enter the mix. But in Virginia, the law is clear: what matters most is the property’s condition, not its past.

So this Halloween, remember: not every haunting needs to make it into the listing. The only thing scarier than a ghost story is skipping your inspection. 👻