Selling an Inherited House in Fresno, CA

What we do with the house and its contents

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. If family members want particular belongings, tell us so the written terms are clear about what stays with the house.

Property taxes, insurance, utilities, mortgage payments, and upkeep can continue while an estate keeps a house. If you decide to sell, the written terms and title-company closing address the property and its contents; mortgages, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate from the closing costs we pay.

What happens next

1. Tell us the Fresno property address, its condition, what is still inside, and what you know about the estate.
2. We talk through the house, the contents, the estate’s stage, and any questions about access or timing.
3. We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You can read the written terms before you commit.
4. If you choose to proceed, a title company handles the closing steps and confirms the documents and signing requirements for this property.

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.

Remote signing does not change any estate-authority, court, or title requirements that apply.

California estate authority and taxes

For a house owned by an estate, only the court-appointed personal representative—the executor or administrator—can sign for the estate. An heir’s family relationship alone does not give them signing authority. The estate’s appointment and the title record determine who signs for a particular sale.

With full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, the representative can sell without a court confirmation hearing after giving heirs and beneficiaries a Notice of Proposed Action at least 15 days before acting. If someone objects, the sale goes through court supervision.

With limited authority, a real-property sale needs court supervision. The court confirms the sale at a hearing where others may overbid, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal.

Some surviving spouses or heirs may qualify for simpler court procedures, such as a spousal property petition or a primary-residence petition. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, an eligible primary residence valued up to $750,000 may qualify for the primary-residence procedure. California Courts’ self-help information describes possible paths; the court and estate records determine which one applies.

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.

California documentary transfer tax

For a covered transfer, California counties charge documentary transfer tax of $0.55 for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500—$1.10 per $1,000. It applies when consideration is over $100, not counting any lien or loan that stays on the property after the sale. A city may take half of that rate as its own share, credited against the county tax, so the combined rate usually stays at $1.10 per $1,000; some cities add a larger tax on top. The county recorder collects the tax when the deed is recorded. Escrow can confirm the property’s county, any city tax, taxable amount, and applicable exemptions.

State law makes a person who signs or benefits from the deed responsible for the tax, and the purchase agreement can allocate the cost between buyer and seller. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax.

Recorded loans and liens must be paid or released at closing. Mortgages, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from the closing costs we pay.

• California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 — documentary transfer tax rate
• California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11912 — persons responsible for the tax
• California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11931 — city tax credit and allocation

Local help and reviews

If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.

• Fresno County Superior Court Probate Division — probate information and filing/contact routing.
• Fresno County Recorder — recorded documents — recording information and document requirements.
• Fresno County Assessor — parcel maps — parcel and assessment inquiries, separate from a tax bill or payoff.
• Fresno County property-tax information — secured property-tax information and payment routing.

Fresno reviews and trust information

Questions and contact