Do I have to wait for probate to finish before selling?

In most states, no. Once the personal representative has letters testamentary (or letters of administration), they can sign on behalf of the estate. The court typically needs to approve the final sale. A handful of states require additional steps — we coordinate with your probate attorney either way.

Will I owe capital gains tax?

Usually much less than people expect. Inherited property gets a step-up in basis to fair market value on the date of death (IRC §1014). If you sell soon after inheriting, taxable gain is often small or zero. Always confirm with a CPA.

How fast can you close?

On a cash-offer-as-is sale, as little as 10 days. Renovate & Sell takes 60–90 days from listing to close, depending on the scope of the renovation.

What does it cost me to sell to Inherited Home Buyers?

Zero. We pay all standard closing costs on cash offers and there are no commissions, fees, or hidden charges. Renovate & Sell uses a transparent profit-share — you pay nothing out of pocket.

What if the house is in poor condition or full of belongings?

We still buy. Take what you want, leave the rest. We handle cleanout, repairs, and disposal at our cost.

Pillar Guide

Sell your inherited house — nationwide. Two ways to sell. Zero fees.

The complete guide to selling an inherited house in the United States: how the process works, what taxes you'll actually owe, how probate fits in, and the two programs we run nationwide.

Get My Free Offer Need it fast?

The 100-word answer

How do I sell an inherited house?

To sell an inherited house in the United States: (1) confirm whether probate is required in the state where the property sits, (2) get a date-of-death valuation so your tax basis is correct, (3) decide whether to sell as-is for speed or renovate first for maximum net, (4) accept a written offer or list the property, (5) close. With Inherited Home Buyers you can request a free cash offer in 24 hours, close in as little as 10 days, and pay zero fees — or join our Renovate & Sell program and typically net 15–25% more without paying for the work yourself.

The two main paths

Cash vs. Renovate & Sell.

Cash Offer — As-Is

Speed and certainty. A written offer in 24 hours, close in as little as 10 days.

We pay all standard closing costs
No repairs, no showings, no listing prep
You pick the closing date
Best when speed or simplicity matters most

How it works

Renovate & Sell

Maximum net. We fund and manage the renovation, list at market, split the upside.

Zero out-of-pocket cost to you
We handle contractors, permits, staging
Typically nets 15–25% more than as-is
Best when the house has real upside

How it works

Step by step

The process, end to end.

Tell us about the property. Address, condition, any probate or sibling situation, your timeline. Five minutes.
We send a written offer (or two). If both programs make sense for your situation, we send numbers for both so you can compare.
You choose. Cash, Renovate & Sell, or neither. No obligation.
We coordinate the legal pieces. Probate attorney, title company, siblings, lender payoff — we run point.
You close on your timeline. 10 days, 30 days, six months — your call.

For the full day-by-day version, see the closing timeline.

Taxes

What heirs actually owe.

Most heirs owe far less capital-gains tax than they expect because of the step-up in basis (IRC §1014): the property's tax basis resets to its fair market value on the date of death. If you sell soon after inheriting, taxable gain is usually small — sometimes zero. Gains on inherited property are always long-term, regardless of how long you've held the house.

Inheritance tax (paid by the heir) only exists in six states. Estate tax (paid by the estate) has a federal exemption above $13M in 2025. Most families owe neither. Full guides are in our taxes section; this is not tax advice — always confirm with a CPA.

Probate

Selling before, during, and after probate.

You usually can sell during probate — most states allow the personal representative to sign once they have letters from the court. We've closed dozens of mid-probate sales. Property held in a living trust or with a transfer-on-death deed often skips probate entirely. See selling during probate for the full walkthrough.

State variations

50 states, one process — almost.

We close in all 50 states. The core process is the same, but probate rules, inheritance tax, transfer-on-death deeds, and small-estate thresholds vary by state. Browse our state index for state-specific guides.

FAQ

Common questions.

In short: confirm whether probate is required, get a date-of-death valuation for tax basis, decide between selling as-is or renovating first, then close. With Inherited Home Buyers you can request a free cash offer in 24 hours or join our Renovate & Sell program — we handle the paperwork either way and pay all closing costs on cash sales.

Free Cash Offer

Find out what your inherited house is worth — free, no obligation.

Takes less than 2 minutes. No commitment required.

Get My Free Offer

This is an illustrative estimate only. Actual offers depend on property condition, local market conditions, and due diligence. No offer is binding until a formal written agreement is signed by both parties.