The bombshell release of emails from accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein‘s inbox led to a number of explosive revelations about his relationship with convicted madam Ghislaine Maxwell.
According to Bloomberg, which reviewed a “cache of more than 18,000” emails found in Epstein’s Yahoo account, the messages reveal intimate details of Maxwell and Epstein’s deep and enduring bond—including communications about a potential “shared fertility procedure.”
The emails also call into question Maxwell’s repeated claims that she drastically distanced herself from Epstein in the early 2000s—a claim that she is understood to have doubled down on as recently as August, when she spent nine hours being interviewed by a top Justice Department official.
But experts are now predicting that the trove of messages could also have a significant impact on another piece of the puzzle that was Maxwell and Epstein’s relationship: the sale of the New Hampshire property where she was apprehended by the FBI after Epstein died by suicide behind bars while awaiting trial.
The property, which was put on the market for $2.49 million in early July, is where Maxwell was arrested by FBI agents in July 2020, having spent almost 12 months in hiding.
Her disappearance, which came soon after Epstein was found dead inside his jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, sparked a lengthy hunt by authorities, who eventually tracked her to the home using GPS data from her cellphone, according to NBC News.
Soon after the 156-acre Bradford, NH, estate was put on the market, news of its listing—and its close ties to Maxwell—spread quickly, with stories highlighting the madam’s connection to the home posted by dozens of news outlets.
While publicity can be a boon to any home listing, in this case, real estate agents suggest that the frenzy of interest in the home, and its link to Maxwell and Epstein, could well be a significant hurdle in its ability to find a buyer.
“This listing is what’s known as a ‘precarious professional situation,'” seasoned real estate agent Cara Ameer, with Coldwell Banker, tells Realtor.com. Despite the listing making no mention of Maxwell, any potential buyers should be informed about the home’s history before they make an offer.
“While the listing does not make mention of this property’s history in the description, a buyer and their agent should be told about it before they see it and potentially make an offer because it could affect their feelings about the home,” she adds.
“A buyer may not initially realize the situation when this property initially crosses their path by searching online. Upon finding out, the negative publicity surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell could absolutely impact the marketability of the home.”
Ameer notes that, in addition to giving it an infamous backstory, the home’s connection to Maxwell could turn buyers away out of fear that purchasing the home could put money in her pockets, or the pockets of anyone with ties to her.
Although Maxwell is not thought to have owned the home, records show that it was last purchased in December 2019 through an LLC with close ties to her alleged partner, tech mogul Scott Borgerson, who is 14 years her senior.
Records show that the home was last bought for $1 million, meaning the seller will walk away with a profit of more than $1 million should the home manage to secure an offer even close to its asking price of $2.49 million.
“It’s not famous in a good way. The backstory may be enough to quash any interest from a buyer, let alone not wanting to give their money to Maxwell or anyone connected to her by buying the home,” she continues.
“There may be people who feel morally opposed to having anything to do with this property because of Maxwell’s prior actions, particularly that this home was used as a hiding place before she was arrested.
“The negative publicity surrounding this property is going to be difficult to overcome, no matter what. Finding that one buyer who may not care will be difficult, [particularly if] the proceeds of the home are used to support the defense of someone associated with such awful behavior involving young girls.”
Still, Ameer says certain savvy buyers could see an opportunity to secure a high-priced property for a lower sum—and use the home’s backstory as a tool for negotiations.
“On the flip side, are there buyers who look for opportunities like this? Absolutely,” she notes. “They may be able to separate the backstory and use this as a chance to negotiate a deal on a luxury property. The property may take a hit pricewise as a result.”
Ameer adds that this is certainly not the first time a property with a sordid history has been put on the market—explaining that it’s likely considerations were made about how Maxwell’s ties might affect a potential sale.
“This is where the difficulties come in with trying to market a home like this,” she says. “There may be offers, but the offers are likely to be much lower than what the owners or representatives of the property are willing to accept, and there isn’t anything you can do as an agent to erase an owner or property’s reputation, particularly with something of this magnitude.
“So, it becomes what price is the market willing to pay, and the owners must accept the realities of that if they need to get the property sold.”
Luckily, the home does have plenty to offer potential buyers—not least the 156-acre parcel of land that is home to two dwellings: a timber-framed main house and a detached barn, each with two bedrooms.
The property’s description highlights its “fine craftsmanship” and “gorgeous views of local hills and distant mountains,” noting that it would be a “dream” for a “hunter, farmer, horse lover, hiker, [or] privacy lover.
“The main home consists of a gorgeous Great Room with stunning fieldstone fireplace as the focal point, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a stone patio and views, and on the other side a covered porch with views of feature gardens with waterfall and pond,” the listing adds.
In addition, the main house features a spacious eat-in kitchen, a sunroom with a wood-burning stove, and a dining space that is part of the open-concept living area.
However, it is the views that are considered the home’s crown jewel, with the description adding that each of the spaces has “360-degree views of the beauty of nature.”
“To complete this amazing offering is a workshop, full equipment garage, lovely fields, walking trails and surrounded by conservation land,” the description concludes.
It is not known how long Maxwell lived in the dwelling before her arrest—which then led to her being charged with six federal counts: sex trafficking of a minor, enticing a minor to travel to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and three counts of conspiracy.
She pleaded not guilty to all charges during her December 2021 trial, but was convicted on five of the counts. A jury acquitted her of the charge of enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
Maxwell’s exact fortune at the time of her arrest was unknown, with prosecutors admitting at the time that “her numerous accounts and substantial money movements render her total financial picture opaque and indeterminate.”
She had previously owned a property in New York City that was sold in 2016, long before her arrest. Other details about her potential real estate holdings in other locations and countries have never been reported.