Yo doesn’t normally venture beyond the Chicago metro, but this item from Manhattan-based Matrix poses an intriguing question: is a home harder to sell when a registered sex offender lives nearby?
A Matrix reader writes: “As a homeowner trying to sell my home with a registered sex offender right next door, I can say this is financially devastating. I live in an area with excellent schools and my home is geared for beginning families, 3 bedrooms, expensive play system in yard, etc. Already we have lost 3 sales in 3 months in an area where most homes sell within 2 weeks.”
Web sites that map the location of sex offenders make it easy for buyers to find out whether one is living near a home they’re interested in. Is it only a matter of time before Zillow works this data into its automated valuation models? Should sellers be required to disclose the presence of a registered sex offender next door?
Share your experiences or thoughts in the comments, below.