Texas Real Estate Brokerage Sales Apprentice Education (SAE) Practice Exam

According to the License Act, must a licensee disclose a suicide that took place on the property?

1. Yes, disclosure is mandatory

2. No, disclosure is not required

3. Only if the buyer requests it

4. Only if the property is being rented

The correct answer is: No, disclosure is not required

In Texas, the disclosure of a suicide that occurred on a property is not required under the License Act. This means that licensees are not mandated to inform potential buyers or tenants about such an incident unless there is a specific request for that information. The rationale behind this is that such events are often considered stigmas attached to the property rather than material defects affecting the structure or condition of the property itself. In practice, buyers may still choose to inquire about the history of a property, but unless they explicitly ask, the licensee is not obligated to disclose any incidents of suicide or other events that might be viewed as distressing but do not affect the physical aspects of the property. This allows sellers and agents to navigate sensitive information without legal repercussions regarding non-disclosure of tragic events that are not structural or functional issues.