What we do with the house and contents
We buy houses as-is in Ames and Story County, Iowa. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. Tell us what you want to keep and what will stay so the written terms match the property and contents.
Property taxes, insurance, utilities, ordinary upkeep, and any mortgage payments are carrying costs that can continue while an estate holds the house. If you are comparing whether to keep or sell it, include those ongoing bills in the decision.
What happens next
- Talk through the Ames property, its condition and contents, the estate status, and the timing you have in mind.
- We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
- You receive written offer terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, the sale closes through a title company, which reviews the title and signing documents.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
Signing from another location
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property.
What you keep from the sale
Use the Ames net-proceeds calculator to compare an estimated sale amount with costs and what may remain for the estate.
Open the Ames home-sale net-proceeds calculator →Iowa estate authority and taxes
Often, an inherited Iowa house can be sold before probate is finished, but the sale normally goes through the estate's court-appointed personal representative, not an heir acting alone. The representative can sell estate real estate to pay debts, distribute the estate, or for another purpose in the estate's best interests.
If the will gives the personal representative power to sell, the usual court sale steps do not apply. Otherwise, the representative petitions the court, gives notice to interested people unless they waive it in writing, gets an order for the sale, and files a report afterward for court approval. A homestead can be sold only as the court directs, and a surviving spouse may have the right to keep it.
A mortgage and other liens still have to be paid or released at closing. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Iowa inheritance tax does not apply to deaths on or after January 1, 2025. For an earlier death, use the date-specific guidance from the Iowa Department of Revenue or an estate attorney.
Iowa real estate transfer tax is 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. Iowa law generally makes the person conveying the property, normally the seller, liable for the tax. Exemptions include certain family, divorce, estate-distribution, and $500-or-less transfers; the closing professional confirms whether the tax applies and the taxable amount.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Iowa real estate transfer tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
Local help and Story County records
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Story County Recorder & Vital Records
The Recorder keeps public records, including land transactions. Use this office for deed and recording records; those records alone do not determine who can sign an estate sale.
Open the official county office →Story County Auditor — Real Estate & Property Records
The Auditor maintains current property-ownership records, plat maps, and transfer books. Match the property to its county record before relying on an ownership detail.
Open the official county office →Story County Assessor
The Assessor handles real-property assessment. An assessment record is not a property-specific sale price or closing-cost total.
Open the official county office →Questions and contact
If you have probate papers, a will, a court order, or a deed, tell us what you have. We can discuss the house and coordinate with the estate's title company or attorney about the sale process.
Call 888-274-5006Related: Ames probate guidance · Ames seller resources · Ames market overview
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions — Inherited Property in Ames, IA
Can I sell an inherited house in Iowa before probate is finished?
Often, yes, but the sale normally goes through the estate's court-appointed personal representative, not an heir acting alone. If the will gives the representative power to sell, the usual court steps do not apply. Otherwise, the representative petitions the court, gives notice to interested people unless they waive it in writing, gets an order for the sale, and files a report afterward for court approval. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Who can sign for an inherited Ames house?
The sale normally goes through the estate's court-appointed personal representative, not an heir acting alone. The will, court orders, title, and estate file determine what authority is needed for this property. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Do I have to put the inherited house in my own name before selling?
You can sell in the estate's name once the estate is opened — no need to put the house in your own name first. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. We help coordinate the sale, but we do not provide legal advice. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
What if the will does not give the personal representative power to sell?
The personal representative normally petitions the court for authority to sell and gives notice to interested people, unless they waive notice in writing. The representative gets a court order before the sale and files a report afterward for court approval. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm the steps for the estate file.
Does Iowa inheritance tax apply to an inherited house?
Iowa inheritance tax does not apply to deaths on or after January 1, 2025. For an earlier death, check the date-specific rules with the Iowa Department of Revenue or an estate attorney; the sale date by itself does not answer the tax question.
What Iowa transfer tax applies when the house is sold?
Iowa real estate transfer tax is 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. Exemptions apply to some transfers, including certain family and estate-distribution transfers. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Iowa real estate transfer tax. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
Do I have to repair the house or remove the belongings first?
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. Tell us what you want to keep and what will stay so the written terms match the property and contents.
Can I handle signing from outside Iowa?
Sell from anywhere in the country — we can send a notary to you, and you don't have to attend settlement or even visit the property.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.