Is It Hard to Sell A Home Where a Murder Has Taken Place?

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My colleague Sheree Curry writes about the Boulder, Colorado home where little JonBenet Ramsey was found murdered nearly 14 years ago — how sad to think she would have been 20 years old had she lived. It’s back on the market for $2.3 million. The JonBenet murder was never solved, her mother has since died, and now the owners of the home are having a tough time trying to sell it. Tim and Carol Milner have four children and lived in the house briefly but now use it as a second home when they travel to Boulder from California. Carol Milner is the daughter of televangelist Robert Schuller, so perhaps they have put some positive karma back into the 7240 square foot home:

“The Ramseys purchased the home, then 6,800-square-feet, in 1991 for $500,000. They unloaded it for $650,000 to an investment group named after the Ramsey home address, 755 15th St. LLC. (The home’s address was changed to 749 15th St. in June 2001). The investment group’s plan was to sell it for a profit with the proceeds going to the JonBenĂ©t Ramsey Childrens Foundation, a non-profit set up by her distraught parents.

Tim Milner said in a 2005 news Daily Camera report that every time a television feature or news story on the killing appears, the value of the home drops. “You guys are just creating a circus” by continuing to write about the house and its history,” he said.

The Milner’s lived in the home during a time period when the famiy opened up a Boulder church. It is said the curiosity seekers who stopped to have their pictures taken in front of the house, helped drive the family away.”

So what do you think? Would you buy the Ramsey/Milner house, even at half-price? Would you buy a house in Dallas (or anywhere) where a murder or violent death took place at any price?

Candy Evans

Candy Evans

14 Comments

  1. Lisa on February 23, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Uh, NO! Who would want to live in a home where someone was murdered? I'd buy a house where someone died but not one where someone was violently killed.

    How about the Geis house in Dallas? Any takers for a house where the mom killed her 2 kids and then killed herself?



  2. Lisa on February 23, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Uh, NO! Who would want to live in a home where someone was murdered? I'd buy a house where someone died but not one where someone was violently killed.

    How about the Geis house in Dallas? Any takers for a house where the mom killed her 2 kids and then killed herself?



  3. Candy Evans on February 23, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I'm going to check and see if that is on the market… you took the words right out of my mouth!



  4. Candy Evans on February 23, 2011 at 9:59 am

    I'm going to check and see if that is on the market… you took the words right out of my mouth!



  5. Kersten Rettig on February 23, 2011 at 10:08 am

    I was only renting, but when I lived in NYC at 75th and Broadway, the previous tenant of my apertment had been murdered and dismembered and left in our bathtub for two weeks. They did some restoration in the apartment (new grout around the tub, gee, thanks) but the building's super never told us prior to us signing the lease. My husband and I were totally skeeved and that contributed to our decision to leave New York. I would never knowlingly live in a place where something so heinous took place.



  6. Kersten Rettig on February 23, 2011 at 10:08 am

    I was only renting, but when I lived in NYC at 75th and Broadway, the previous tenant of my apertment had been murdered and dismembered and left in our bathtub for two weeks. They did some restoration in the apartment (new grout around the tub, gee, thanks) but the building's super never told us prior to us signing the lease. My husband and I were totally skeeved and that contributed to our decision to leave New York. I would never knowlingly live in a place where something so heinous took place.



  7. House Plans - House 17029 blueprint on February 23, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    […] you can look at this related post: http://secondshelters.com/2011/02/23/is-it-hard-to-sell-a-home-where-a-murder-has-taken-place/ Posted in Traditional […]



  8. House Plans - House 17029 blueprint on February 23, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    […] you can look at this related post: http://secondshelters.com/2011/02/23/is-it-hard-to-sell-a-home-where-a-murder-has-taken-place/ Posted in Traditional […]



  9. VonT on February 23, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    Yes it is Candy. I listed a home in the past where there were a murder and suicide both in the Master bedroom. It sat for almost a year on the market even though we priced it way below market. Owner had to disclose it on the Seller's Disclo…sure about the unfortunate incident.
    We finally rented it out to an out of town family relocating here to Dallas.



  10. VonT on February 23, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    Yes it is Candy. I listed a home in the past where there were a murder and suicide both in the Master bedroom. It sat for almost a year on the market even though we priced it way below market. Owner had to disclose it on the Seller's Disclo…sure about the unfortunate incident.
    We finally rented it out to an out of town family relocating here to Dallas.



  11. Paul Sumrall on February 24, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Okay Candy, what did Walter do?



  12. Paul Sumrall on February 24, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Okay Candy, what did Walter do?



  13. MSM85 on February 24, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    …..And be haunted by some angry mad soul – no thanks!



  14. MSM85 on February 24, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    …..And be haunted by some angry mad soul – no thanks!