What we do with the house and its contents
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. You do not have to empty the house to sell to us. If the family wants to keep particular belongings, tell us; we can discuss what stays in the written terms.
A house can keep generating property-tax bills, insurance, utilities, and upkeep while the estate is being handled. We can talk through the property as it stands, its contents, and access without assuming what the family wants to do with it.
What happens next
- Tell us the Arlington address, what you know about the house, and what estate paperwork you have. You can start with a question before you have every document.
- We talk through the property and its contents, then give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
- Read the written offer and terms before deciding. If you choose to proceed, a title company handles the closing and checks the deed and signing authority.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
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 may keep after the sale
The sale price is not the same as the amount left after costs. Compare the written offer or another sale plan with the mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, current property-tax share, and the bills you carry while you wait. A calculator is an estimate, not a property-specific settlement figure.
Compare possible net proceeds with the Arlington calculator →Virginia estate rules and taxes
Who can sign and when the house can be sold
In Virginia, real estate generally passes at death to the heirs or to the people named in the will. An executor may sell only after appointment through the circuit court clerk and only if the will directs a sale or grants a power of sale, or a court grants that power. Otherwise, the heirs or beneficiaries generally sign the deed together; if they cannot agree, a circuit court can order a sale. The will, list of heirs, appointment papers, and title determine who signs for this house.
A sale by heirs or beneficiaries within one year after the death can be challenged by the deceased owner's creditors unless no court action over the estate's debts is started and no report of debts is filed within that year. A court-ordered sale during that first year is protected when the sale proceeds go to a court-appointed commissioner. A surviving spouse may also have a right to stay in the home in some circumstances.
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.
- Virginia Code §64.2-200: heirs →
- Virginia Code §64.2-521: sale authority →
- Virginia Code §64.2-105: appointment process →
- Virginia Code §64.2-509: creditor claims →
- Virginia Code §64.2-534 and §64.2-535: sale within the first year →
- Virginia Code §64.2-308.16: surviving-spouse rights →
Virginia and Arlington County transfer taxes
Virginia grantor tax is 50 cents for each $500 of the greater of the sale price or value—about 0.1%. Arlington County also has a regional WMATA capital fee and a regional congestion relief fee, each 0.1%; together with grantor tax, those three charges total $300 on a $100,000 sale. Separate Virginia state and local recordation taxes may apply. The sale contract can shift who pays, and exemptions or transfers with little or no consideration can change the tax, so the settlement agent confirms the amounts for the actual sale.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Virginia state and local recordation taxes, grantor tax and any applicable regional WMATA capital fee, regional congestion relief fee or regional transportation improvement fee. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.
Arlington County estate and deed help
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Arlington County Circuit Court, Probate Office
1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 6300, Arlington, VA 22201. Use the County's Probate & Wills page for local filing and contact information.
Arlington County Probate & Wills →Arlington County Circuit Court, Land Records Division
1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 6200, Arlington, VA 22201. The division handles deed and land-record questions.
Arlington County Land Records Division →For county real-estate tax bills and payment questions, use the Arlington County real-estate taxes and payments page. The Department of Real Estate Assessments handles assessment-information questions; an assessment is not a title or tax-balance determination.
Seller reviews
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys. The review page keeps each seller's actual location.
Read seller testimonials and see their towns →Questions and contact
Questions about selling an inherited Arlington house
Can I sell an inherited Virginia house before the estate is settled?
Sometimes. Virginia real estate generally passes at death to the heirs or people named in the will. An executor can sell only after appointment through the circuit court clerk and only if the will directs a sale or grants that power, or a court grants the power. Otherwise, heirs or beneficiaries generally sign the deed together; a circuit court can order a sale if they cannot agree. The will, appointment papers, title, and any court orders determine the route for this property.
Who can sign the deed for an inherited Arlington house?
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. An executor's appointment alone does not establish a power to sell; the will or a court order must authorize the sale. If that authority is absent, the heirs or beneficiaries generally sign together, subject to the deed, title, and any other rights or court orders.
Can creditors challenge an inherited-house sale during the first year?
A sale by heirs or beneficiaries within one year after the death can be challenged by the deceased owner’s creditors unless no court action over the estate’s debts is started and no report of debts is filed within that year. A court-ordered sale during that first year is protected when the sale proceeds go to a court-appointed commissioner. Have the estate and title professionals check the actual dates and file.
What taxes and fees apply to a sale in Arlington County?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Virginia state and local recordation taxes, grantor tax and any applicable regional WMATA capital fee, regional congestion relief fee or regional transportation improvement fee. Virginia grantor tax and Arlington’s regional fees can apply along with separate state and local recordation taxes. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate. The settlement agent confirms the amounts for the actual sale.
Do I have to clear the house or make repairs first?
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. If family members want to keep particular items, tell us so we can discuss the contents in the written terms.
Can I sell from another state without visiting the property?
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. The estate's signing authority and the title company's requirements still apply.
How soon will I get a written cash offer?
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You can review the written offer and terms before you commit; if you choose to proceed, the sale closes through a title company.
- Arlington seller questions
- Arlington seller resources
- Arlington market report and Virginia selling costs
Talk through the inherited Arlington house
Call 888-274-5006 or send the property address through the form.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the property address and what you know about the estate.