Burleigh County Recorder
The Recorder is the county office for real-property document records, including deeds and mortgages. Use it for recorded-document questions related to the property.
Bismarck, ND and Burleigh County · Tenant-occupied property
Can I sell my Bismarck house with tenants still living there?
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Yes. You can sell while tenants remain in the house. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Bismarck and Burleigh County. A sale does not by itself cancel the lease, so the lease and occupancy still matter to the handoff.
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form below. You can talk with us about the lease, access, repairs, and timing before deciding what to do next.
Talk through your Bismarck tenant-occupied house
Share the address and what you know about the lease, rent, deposits, access, repairs, and timing. You do not have to make the house vacant before starting the conversation.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address, lease details, access limits, occupancy, and timing.
What we do
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. We can review the house with its current tenants and discuss the lease, rent, access, and condition.
You don't always need to evict to sell to us. We buy houses with tenants in place — we've done it many times, including cash-for-keys when that works better for everyone. Tell us about the property and tenancy.
A move-out arrangement may be one option to discuss if it works better for everyone. Tell us if that is part of the situation; the lease and the actual tenancy still shape the handoff.
Bring us the problem
Lease timing, a tenant who limits access, repairs that are piling up, or uncertainty about the next step? Tell us what is happening, including any notices already sent. You can call 888-274-5006 and talk it through.
What happens next
1. We discuss the lease, occupancy, and house
Tell us who lives there, what the lease says, how access works, what repairs are known, and what timing you have in mind. If you have them, keep the lease, rent record, deposit record, and written notices nearby.
2. We put the offer and terms in writing
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You can review the written offer and terms before you commit; there is no verbal-only agreement to rely on.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
3. The title company coordinates closing
A title company is the closing company that reviews ownership and prepares the settlement documents. The lease, occupancy, and deposit handoff remain part of the sale discussion. Read the written terms and bring the lease and deposit records to the closing conversation.
Local property records for Bismarck and Burleigh County
The county recorder can help with recorded property documents. These offices do not decide what a lease means or when a tenant must move.
City of Bismarck Assessing Department
For a property within Bismarck, use the city's Assessing Department page for property-assessment questions. Confirm the property's local jurisdiction before relying on a city office.
North Dakota lease, notice, and security-deposit rules
Selling the property does not, by itself, cancel the lease. North Dakota lists when a lease ends: the term expires, both sides agree to end it, the tenant gets title to the property, or the property is destroyed. A sale is not one of those events.
The lease continues with the buyer
The buyer takes over as landlord. The new owner gets the same rights to collect rent and enforce the lease that you had. A tenant does not have to move just because the house is sold.
Notice depends on the tenancy
To end a month-to-month tenancy, either side must give at least one calendar month's written notice, unless the parties agreed in writing to a longer notice period or a different notice time. If a fixed-term lease has turned into month-to-month, the notice must end on the last day of a month. A fixed-term lease and other protections may require a different approach.
The deposit follows the ownership handoff
When ownership changes, transfer the security deposit and the interest it has earned to the buyer. You remain responsible for the deposit until it is transferred. The deposit generally cannot be more than one month's rent, with limited exceptions.
Whoever owns the house when the tenancy ends must return the deposit, less lawful deductions listed in writing, within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant moves out.
Have every lease and deposit record ready for closing. The North Dakota Century Code provisions for deposits, when leases end, notice, and a new owner's rights are in Chapter 47-16 (§§ 47-16-07.1, 47-16-14, 47-16-15, and 47-16-28).
Useful Bismarck seller links
Bismarck home-sale net proceeds calculator →Compare your own sale price or written offer with payoff, repairs, and selling costs.Bismarck seller resources →Find the local process, market report, and other seller situation pages.Code notices and repair-heavy houses →See the Bismarck page for a house that also has a city notice or serious repair issue.Bismarck seller questions →Read answers to other questions about selling a house in Bismarck.
Questions about selling a Bismarck rental
Can I sell a Bismarck house while tenants are still living there?
Yes. You can talk with USA Home Buyers while tenants remain in the house. A sale does not by itself cancel the lease, so the lease, occupancy, access, and deposit records matter to the handoff.
Do I have to evict before I call?
No. You can call before deciding what to do about possession. The lease and applicable process still matter, and a sale by itself does not make a tenant move out.
What happens to the security deposit when I sell?
When ownership changes, the security deposit and earned interest must be transferred to the buyer, and you remain responsible for the deposit until it is transferred. Whoever owns the house when the tenancy ends must return the deposit, less lawful deductions listed in writing, within 30 days after the lease ends and the tenant moves out.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy?
North Dakota generally requires at least one calendar month of written notice, unless the parties agreed in writing to a longer notice period or a different notice time. If a fixed-term lease has become month-to-month, the notice must end on the last day of a month.
Do I need to repair or clean out the rental before asking about a sale?
No. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us what work is needed and how tenant access works.
What should I have ready for the conversation?
If available, have the lease and renewals, rent information, security-deposit and interest records, access limits, written notices, repair details, and the timing you are considering. You can call with what you know now.
Questions or ready to talk?
Call 888-274-5006 or review the written offer and terms before deciding what fits your house and tenancy.
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys.