No, and this is one of the biggest reliefs for families dealing with an inherited house. Take anything you want to keep, and leave everything else exactly where it is. A cash home buyer will buy the house belongings and all, so there’s nothing left for you to sort, haul, or decide about under pressure.
Sell an inherited house fast: A cash offer for estate homes
Get a fair cash offer and skip the repairs, showings, and long wait for a traditional sale.
Tell us about the house you inherited, and we’ll set you up with a buyer who can move quickly.
Selling a house in probate
An inherited house rarely comes with just one thing to handle. There’s usually probate, taxes, and ongoing carrying costs, all at the same time. A cash home buyer can make the sale a lot simpler.
If the house is going through probate, you’ll typically need to be named executor or administrator before you can sell it. Some states require court approval to sell real estate during probate, and others don’t, so the exact process depends on where the property is located. A probate attorney can confirm what your state requires.
Why sell an inherited house with SellMyHouse.co
Selling a house you inherited isn’t the same as selling your own home, and it usually comes with pressures a typical seller never deals with. Here’s what selling to us for cash specifically means for you, compared to a traditional sale.
You don’t have to clean it out first. Most families feel like they need to sort through everything, decide what to keep, and clear the house before it can go on the market. When you sell to us, none of that has to happen. Take whatever you want to keep, whether it’s a few keepsakes or nothing at all, and leave the rest behind. We’ll take care of it from there.- You don’t have to get it ready to show. A traditional sale usually means repairs, staging, and showings. We buy the house exactly as it is, so no repairs or updates are needed.
- You can move at the pace probate actually requires. A traditional sale ties you to a buyer’s mortgage timeline. With us, you set the pace: close fast if the estate is straightforward or wait until you’re ready if it’s more complicated.
- You stop paying to hold onto a house you don’t need. An inherited property costs you money for as long as it sits empty. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, on top of whatever else you’re already covering all add up. Selling to us means you stop paying those costs faster than you would with a traditional listing.
- You can divide what’s left among heirs without a long wait. A traditional sale often means multiple heirs waiting months before anyone sees a dollar. Selling to us shortens that wait considerably.
An estate is already a lot to manage on its own, and selling shouldn’t be a hassle. When you sell to us, you get to skip the parts of the process that usually make an inherited house hard to deal with and keep more of what matters to you and the rest of your family.
Capital gains tax on inherited property
Most heirs owe little or no capital gains tax when they sell. The IRS resets the property’s cost basis to its fair market value on the date of death, called a stepped-up basis, which wipes out any gain that built up while the previous owner was alive. You typically only owe tax on the difference between that value and your eventual sale price and selling soon after inheriting often means that gap is small. Every situation is a little different, so it’s worth checking with a CPA or tax professional to see exactly how this applies to you.
Sell an inherited house for cash
The buyers in our network can take on an inherited house as is, in almost any condition, without repairs or cleanout. You’ll work directly with a cash home buyer to get a fair cash offer and close on your schedule.
How the process works
Selling the house you inherited doesn’t have to add another complicated process on top of everything else you’re already handling. Here’s exactly what happens once you request an offer.
STEP 01
Request your free cash offer
Share a few details about the house and where things stand with the estate.
STEP 02
Schedule a property visit
A cash home buyer tours the house as it is, belongings and all.
STEP 03
Review your offer
Take time to go over it with co-heirs, your attorney, or a CPA before you decide.
STEP 04
Close on your schedule and get your funds
Set a closing date that fits the probate timeline.
Other situations that come with an inherited house
Inheriting a property often brings additional challenges. Sometimes the house itself is packed with years of belongings on top of everything else. Other times, mortgage payments have lapsed while probate was still being worked out.
If you’re dealing with a hoarder house on top of an inheritance, or the estate has fallen behind on payments, we buy houses in either situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to clean out the house before selling it to you?
How fast can I sell an inherited house for cash?
Most homeowners hear back within 24 hours of requesting an offer. From there, you close on your schedule.
Do I need to make repairs before selling an inherited house?
No. A cash home buyer usually buys the house as is, so you don’t need to make repairs or updates before you sell.
Can I sell a house that's still in probate?
In many states, yes, once you’re named executor or administrator, though some states require court approval first. A probate attorney can confirm the rules where the property is located.
Will I owe capital gains tax if I sell an inherited house?
Often little or none. Your cost basis resets to the home’s fair market value on the date of death, so you’re typically only taxed on any increase in value after that. A tax professional can confirm your specific numbers.
Do I need to go through probate before selling an inherited house?
In many cases, yes, though it depends on how the property was titled and your state’s rules. If the house was in a trust or had a transfer-on-death deed, probate may not be required at all. A probate attorney can confirm what applies to your situation.
