Would You Buy A Haunted House?

Ever heard of a 'legally haunted' house?

In New York, it's a real thing! The 1991 case of Stambovsky v. Ackley, often called the 'Ghostbuster Ruling,' established a unique precedent. Here's the spooky scoop:

The Story:
A seller had publicly advertised her house as haunted, even gaining it a reputation in local tours and publications.
A buyer, unaware of this reputation, sought to rescind the purchase contract when he discovered the house's ghostly history.
The Ruling:
The court ruled that because the seller had actively created and perpetuated the house's reputation as haunted, she had a duty to disclose this information to the buyer.
This was a departure from the typical 'buyer beware' (caveat emptor) principle.
Essentially the court stated that, because the seller had made the residence to be known as haunted, that it was legally so, for the purposes of that sale.
The Takeaway:
While New York generally doesn't require sellers to disclose 'stigmatized' property information (like deaths or crimes), this case created an exception for situations where the seller themselves created the stigma.
It highlights the importance of due diligence when purchasing a property, and that in some unique cases, sellers can be held responsible for information they have openly shared about a property.
So, if you're buying a house in New York, you might want to ask about more than just leaky faucets! #RealEstate #HauntedHouses #LegalNews #NewYork #GhostbusterRuling"