Selling an Inherited House
Two separate tax systems apply to inherited California property, and heirs mix them up constantly. Federal law steps your cost basis up to value at the date of death, so a prompt sale usually carries little capital gains. Proposition 19, meanwhile, reassesses the property tax to market value unless an heir moves in and files within a year.
- We deal with your attorney directly
- As it stands, repairs and all
- Your closing date, not ours
Inherited House sales — what to expect
Stepped-up basis versus Prop 19
That combination — small gains exposure, multiplied carrying cost — is why selling early is often the rational move for heirs who are not moving in. We buy with the contents still inside, we sign out-of-state heirs remotely, and we will tell you plainly when listing would net more.
Prop 19 reassesses most inherited homes to market value, and heirs frequently see the annual tax bill multiply. Add vacant-property insurance, utilities and upkeep and the carrying cost commonly runs one to two thousand a month while everyone decides what to do.
What we handle
What heirs run into
Scattered heirs, a full house, and a property tax bill that just multiplied.
Out-of-state heirs
About half our inherited purchases involve heirs living elsewhere. Signing goes by remote notary or mail and escrow handles the rest.
Estate full of belongings
Take the photographs and the documents. Leave the furniture, the boxes, the garage nobody has opened since 2003. We buy it as it sits.
Multiple siblings
We coordinate one offer that everyone reviews. The executor (or all heirs together) signs. Equity splits per the executor's instructions to title.
Older home with deferred maintenance
Inherited homes often have 20-30 years of deferred maintenance. Roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical — none of it stops us. We buy as-is.
Tax basis advice
We coordinate with your CPA on stepped-up basis valuation at date of death. You receive proper closing documentation for your tax return.
Sentimental items + speed
Need a few weeks to sort through belongings? We work with your timeline — 30, 60, even 90 days post-offer.
The Process
Selling during inherited house — step by step
The same three steps we run on every property, shaped around what you're dealing with.
Send us the address
Send the address by form or phone. A minute of your time, nothing pulled, nobody assigned to you.
We come back with a number
We work the numbers and come back inside a day with a figure that holds. No revisions after inspection.
Your closing date, not ours
You name the date, anywhere from a week out to a couple of months. Escrow and title are on us.
Honest Comparison
Cash sale vs. listing with an agent
What each route really costs once you count the weeks, not just the price.
FAQ
Inherited House sales — FAQ
Something we didn't cover? Pick up the phone, we'll answer it straight.
Do I have to go through probate before selling?
What's the difference between inherited (in trust) vs. probate?
Will my tax basis matter for the sale?
Can multiple heirs all sign?
What if siblings disagree about selling?
Get Started
Ready to see your cash offer?
Send us the address. We'll review and call within 24 hours with a real number — no obligation, no credit check, no high-pressure follow-up.
Open Mon-Sun, 8am-8pm PT · 100% free, no obligation