Check for Sex Offenders in CA using the Megan's Law Online Database

Did you know that there is a paragraph in the California Residential Purchase Agreement (in paragraph 5C) that informs prospective home buyers that information is available to them pertaining to the proximity of registered sex offenders to the property they seek to purchase. The paragraph reads:

"Pursuant to Section 290.45 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice at http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov. Depending on an offender's criminal history, this information will include either the address at which the offender resides or the community of residence and ZIP Code in which he or she resides. (Neither Seller nor Brokers are required to check this website. If Buyer wants further information, Broker recommends that Buyer obtain information from this website during Buyer's inspection contingency period. Brokers do not have expertise in this area.)"

While I review this paragraph with all of my buyer clients when we write up offers and encourage them to check the Megan's Law website, I'm not sure that all of them actually do check that out.

Well, let me just tell you that one of my clients did check.

We wrote an offer on Friday evening, had a counter offer from the seller in hand by Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, while my buyer clients were contemplating how to respond to the seller's counter offer, they decided to check the Megan's Law database...they found a registered sex offender living 3 doors down from the house they made the offer on. They decided not to pursue that property and look elsewhere...

Let's face it, registered sex offenders are out there and do live in our neighborhoods...but you as a buyer have the ability to make an informed choice as you make your home purchase.