What we do with the house and its contents
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Decatur and Morgan and Limestone Counties, Alabama. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is.
Set aside belongings the family wants to keep; you do not need to clear out or haul away the rest before asking about a sale. While the house is being handled, costs can continue, including property taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep. You can ask about a sale without assuming what the family wants to do with the property.
What happens next
- Tell us the Decatur property address, its condition, and what you know about the estate. Call or use the form to start the conversation.
- We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You can review the written offer and written terms before deciding whether to proceed.
- If you choose to proceed, a title company handles closing and confirms the deed, estate authority, payoffs, and documents needed for this property.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
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.
Compare what you keep
Compare a written offer with what you might net through another sale path using the Decatur home-sale net-proceeds calculator. Enter your own assumptions to compare the options.
Open the Decatur home-sale net-proceeds calculator →Alabama estate rules and deed tax
Often, yes: you may be able to sell an inherited Alabama house before the estate is finished once the right person has authority to sign. The probate court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. If there is a will, this is usually the executor it names, and the court's letters show that person's authority. A will generally must be filed for probate within five years after the death.
If the will expressly authorizes the personal representative to sell the house, the sale can usually proceed under that power. Otherwise, the representative needs the court's approval before selling estate property. If no estate is opened, the heirs may be able to sell together, but everyone with an ownership interest must participate. Estate debts and a surviving spouse's rights can still affect title. The closing attorney or title company can confirm what is needed for the 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.
Alabama charges deed tax when a deed is recorded with the county probate judge: 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500. A mortgage or vendor's lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid may reduce taxable value; the closing attorney confirms the amount. The deed must come with proof of the actual price or value. Without proof, the probate office uses the latest tax assessment, and penalties can apply. The tax and recording fees must be paid before recording. Some deeds are exempt, including certain nominal-price deeds that only correct title.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama's deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes and share of current property taxes are separate.
Local help in Decatur and nearby counties
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. Decatur overlaps Morgan and Limestone Counties. Check the property's parcel and county records rather than relying on a mailing city to determine which office handles its probate, deed, or tax record.
Morgan County Probate Office
302 Lee Street, Decatur, AL 35601 · 256-351-4675. The office describes itself as the recorder for official recordation. Contact it for the appropriate Morgan County probate or recording route; this office information does not determine who may sign for a particular estate.
Morgan County Probate Office →Morgan County Revenue Commissioner
Amanda Scott · Morgan County Courthouse, 302 Lee St. N.E., Decatur, AL 35601 · 256-351-4696. County property-tax appraisal and assessment routing.
Alabama county appraisal and assessment offices →Limestone County Revenue Commissioner
Brian Patterson · Limestone County Courthouse, 100 S. Clinton St., Suite A, Athens, AL 35611 · 256-233-6433. County property-tax appraisal and assessment routing.
Alabama county appraisal and assessment offices →Questions about selling an inherited house in Decatur, AL
Can I sell an inherited Alabama house before the estate is finished?
Often, yes, once the right person has legal power to sign. The probate court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. If there is a will, this is usually the executor it names, and the court’s letters show that person’s authority. If the will expressly authorizes the sale, the representative can usually proceed under that power; otherwise, court approval is needed before selling estate property.
Do I have to put the inherited house in my own name first?
You can sell in the estate’s name once the estate is opened — no need to put the house in your own name first. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate and what the closing requires.
What if no estate has been opened?
The heirs may be able to sell together, but everyone with an ownership interest must participate. Estate debts and a surviving spouse’s rights can still affect title. The closing attorney or title company can confirm what is needed for the property.
How long does a family have to file a will for probate in Alabama?
A will generally must be filed for probate within five years after the death. The estate file and qualified counsel can help confirm how that rule applies to the situation.
What deed tax applies when a house sells in Alabama?
Alabama charges deed tax when the deed is recorded with the county probate judge. The rate is 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or any part of $500. A mortgage or vendor’s lien on which Alabama mortgage tax has been paid may reduce taxable value; the closing attorney confirms that amount. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Alabama’s deed tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes and share of current property taxes are separate.
Do I need to clean out or repair an inherited house before selling to you?
No. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. Set aside any belongings the family wants to keep; you do not need to clear out or haul away the rest before asking about a sale.
Can I handle the sale if I live outside Alabama?
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 title requirements still need to be confirmed for the specific sale.
Does USA Home Buyers give legal advice about the estate?
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.
Talk through the inherited house
Call 888-274-5006 or send the property address to compare a written cash offer.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.