Wow, that database certainly settles the Maryland vs. Virginia debate.

agree with 20:25 - there are a lot of properties (in the midwest especially) that should be condemned because the presence of a meth lab meant that the house is now a HAZMAT situation.

That would be my biggest worry, but the possible return customers would be a concern too. Our previous townhouse was down the block from a known "former" coke dealer and I'm almost positive he was still dealing, given some of behavior of the people visiting his house. (random cars idling outside his house at all hours, etc.)

I heard there is a test kit at home depot like stores for meth.

We once passed on house b/c I looked up the sellers and found that they (who had two kids and normal looking family portraits on display) were once under arrest for drug distribution.

It's smart of you to try to find out ahead of time. In case old customers or enemies come by thinking the old owners are still there. Also, I read an article about a family who unknowingly bought a house that had been a meth house. Their daughter got sick and then they found out it had been a meth house and her sickness was due to the chemicals that had been used at the property. I think they couldn't sell the house because they now knew about the toxicity of the house and their medical bills were huge because their daughter was sick. Awful. Are you suspicious because of a low selling price or is it a fire sale by the bank or police?

Look up Stigmatized property laws for the state youre buying in to find out what they must disclose.

Inquire at the police station.

Why does it matter? Trying to get a discount?

Or other crime occurred or committed on the property? Are neighbors the only resource?