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WWYD Re: buying a home near a sex offender
Long story short- MH and I found an awesome house in a great location that we're supposed to be seeing tomorrow. I just looked up the address on the sex offender registry (honestly- because I was watching Law & Order SVU, haha) and there's a guy living in an apartment behind the house that served a 15 year prison sentence in TX for indecent sexual contact with 2 young girls. He just moved to our state 2 years ago. My first thought was "NO FREAKING WAY ARE WE BUYING THAT HOUSE!!!"- just wanted to make sure it's not crazy to not buy an otherwise perfect house for that reason.
I don't understand how this guy is living there, there is an elementary school really close (within a few blocks) I thought they couldn't live within a certain distance of schools?
Re: WWYD Re: buying a home near a sex offender
I honestly wouldn't let it bother me for a few reasons. 1) He is registered and actively updating his address/employment. 2) It's not the registered sex offenders that are typically the problems.... it's the ones who haven't been caught yet. 3) This is the most important: Unless you are super close to a restricted area (schools, daycares, etc) then someone who is registered could always move in where ever you move. If a sex offender moved in directly next door to you... would you move away?
State laws vary but in my state, a registered sex offender can not live within 1000 feet of a school or daycare. You might look up (or on the state Sex Offender Registry) it might have the rules for your state.
I'm not saying they aren't dangerous people as sex offenders have a high percentage of repeat crimes but I don't live my life worrying about things like that. Just be a little more careful as far as leaving future kids out side alone, locking the doors when you are home alone, etc. We have a registered sex offender just down the street (a few blocks away) and it doesn't bother me. I've never seen the guy before except looking him up online.
That's all good, rational advice- which is what I needed. We've been looking for a house for 2 years and everything about this house is absolutely perfect.
It looks like there's not actually restrictions in our state, it's handled at the county level and since he updated his address I'm assuming he can live there or they would have told him otherwise.
Thanks for your response! You're exactly right... it's something we have basically no control over so the important part is being aware and taking precautions.
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Well, it's only 4 apartments and it adjoins to the back yard of the property. But I definitely see the point, there could be a creep anywhere and you wouldn't know it. You always have to be careful, anyway.
1) you don't know if these "Young girls" were just girls that were 16 when he was 18. Unfortunately you don't have all the facts, only the facts that make him look creepy.
2) If the house is perfect then put an offer in, chances are you'll never see him, he'll move, or you'll forget about it in 3 months.
3) If anything he was going after girls, your LB is safe
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Since it happened in Texas, I found out more info than is given here in PA- they were 10 and 13 and he was 50. And he served a 15 year prison sentence- so there's no doubt in my mid that he's on the registry with good cause.
But your 2nd & 3rd points are spot on
I would not...we had a Sex Offender move into our master planned community. We were in phase two; he moved into phase 1, about a 2 miles door to door. I know several friends that had a tough time selling their house in phase 1. The elem school is within the community, so it is a huge draw for young families. He purchased the home just over the boundry limites, so technically he was within his parole conditions.
If this is a long term house, it is a personal choice. If you are looking to sell in the near future, I would consider the fact for resale. Also, sex offenders tend not to move--it is very difficult to secure somewhere to rent/live with the record, so a greater chance he will remain close to your potential house.
Just my thoughts...
So both cases resulted in one sentence vs a repeat offender? What level is he on the offender registry? That would probably sway my vote. Then again he is a renter not an owner. See the house and weigh everything.
The thing that would give me pause is having him essentially in your back yard (from what you describe). For me I would not buy the house, DH travels for work and neither of us would be comfortable with that set up.
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My dad's a police officer and I told him how I looked up our current home (when we were looking) to see if there were any sex offenders in the neighborhood.
He told me that while there might not be any in the neighborhood now, doesn't mean that next week, next month, or next year that someone won't move in. While it's something to be concerned about, he convinced me that it wasn't anything to not buy a house over if everything else is perfect. So if you give up this house for the sheer fact he is around, you have to keep in mind any future home has this possibility.
I just looked (had never looked at this before). There are 4 in my neighborhood; 3 classified as predators. Yikes. I live right in downtown Chicago, though, so this is probably not all that surprising for an urban area.
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Thanks for the responses- it did help my perspective. We saw the house again and decided against it for a couple reasons. I'm going to refrain from looking again on more houses we are looking at... You're all right- its unavoidable and it's not the people you know about that you have to worry about, it's the ones you don't. I appreciate the friendly smack back to reality, haha.
I've lurked on this board quite a bit for the past few months while we've been getting our house ready to go on the market & buy a new place and I really appreciate the insight & tips I've picked up here!