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 repair, clean, or clear the house to sell it to us.
Tell us which belongings the family wants to keep. We can discuss the contents and the house as it stands, then put the agreed terms in writing. While a house is held, costs such as utilities, insurance, upkeep, and property taxes may continue. Any mortgage, liens, back taxes, and the seller's share of current property taxes remain separate.
What happens next
1. Talk through the property
We can discuss the Houston-area address, condition, access, contents, who is handling the estate, and what paperwork is available. You can call or use the form while you are gathering estate documents.
2. Review the written offer
We put the offer and terms in writing for you to review before you commit. The closing takes place through a title company.
3. Confirm who may sign
If you choose to proceed, the title company reviews the deed and estate papers and confirms the required signer, signatures, and title items for this property.
4. Sign and close
The title company coordinates the closing documents with the estate's authorized signer. The actual estate and title records determine what is needed and when the sale can close.
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.
Compare what you may keep
Compare the written offer with a realistic estimate of what a listing might leave after likely repairs, cleanout, selling costs, and the bills you expect to carry. Use your own assumptions for the inherited house.
Texas estate rules and selling costs
Who may sign for the estate?
Often, an inherited Texas house can be sold before the estate is finished, once the right person has legal power to sign. Texas property passes at death to the people named in the will, or to the heirs if there is no will, but it remains subject to the person's debts. Texas Estates Code, Chapter 101.
In an independent administration, the executor or administrator can sell without asking the judge first when the sale power is in the will, the appointment order gives that power, or the representative records a sworn affidavit saying the sale is necessary or advisable for a purpose allowed by law. The court's letters are the papers showing who was appointed. A title company checks the actual appointment and sale authority. See Texas Estates Code Chapter 401 and Chapter 402.
In a dependent administration, the court stays in charge. The house cannot be sold without a court order, and the judge must approve the sale before the deed is signed. See Texas Estates Code Chapter 356.
If there is a will and the only unpaid debts are a mortgage or other liens on real estate, the court may admit the will as a “muniment of title.” No executor is appointed; the court's order lets the people named in the will deal with the property. This generally must be requested within four years of the death. See Texas Estates Code Chapter 257.
If there is no will, heirs can agree to have an independent administrator appointed and give that person power to sell. With no probate, heirs usually sign the deed; the title company decides what proof of heirship it needs, such as an affidavit of heirship. Kinship alone does not settle the title company's document requirements.
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.
Texas transfer tax and closing costs
Texas has no state, county, or city real-estate transfer tax. The Texas Constitution bars a law imposing a tax on a sale that conveys full ownership of real property. The deed still needs to be signed before a notary and recorded with the county clerk. Recording fees are charged by the page, not the sale price, and can be higher if the deed leaves out the buyer's mailing address. See Texas Constitution, Article VIII, Section 29 and the Texas Legislative Council explanation.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes and share of current property taxes are separate.
Local estate and deed-record help
Houston property can fall in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, or Waller County. Check the county for the parcel before using a court or deed office; a Houston address alone does not tell you which county holds the record. The right probate court and signer depend on the estate file.
Harris County
The county court directory and Clerk real-property page provide local routes for estate-court and recorded-deed questions.
Fort Bend County
The court directory includes probate sections; check the live case for the right court and signing route.
Montgomery County
Use the official county pages to identify the current probate and property-record route for the actual case and parcel.
Waller County
The county court page gives probate routing information; confirm the current court and deed-record details against the live file.
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Questions and contact
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the house, or use the form below. See the Houston home-seller FAQ, Houston seller resources, and Houston market report.
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.
Inherited-house questions in Houston, TX
Can I sell an inherited Texas house before the estate is finished?
Often, yes, once the person signing has authority under the estate process. In an independent administration, an executor or administrator may sell without first asking the judge when the required power is established. A dependent administration generally requires a court order and approval before the deed is signed. The title company or a qualified attorney can review the actual estate papers and title.
Who can sign the deed for an inherited house?
It depends on how the estate is handled. Letters show who the court appointed, but the will, appointment order, any recorded affidavit, court orders, and title requirements can affect whether that person may sell. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for the estate.
Do I have to put the house in my own name before selling it?
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 there is no will or no probate case?
Without a will, heirs can agree to ask for an independent administrator and give that person authority to sell. If no probate is opened, heirs usually sign the deed together; the title company decides what proof of heirship it needs, which may include an affidavit of heirship. The actual family, debt, and title records matter.
Does Texas charge a real-estate transfer tax when a house sells?
Texas has no state, county, or city real-estate transfer tax. A deed still needs to be signed before a notary and recorded with the county clerk, and county recording charges still apply.
Can I sign from outside Texas?
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.
Do I have to clear out or repair an inherited house first?
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us what the family wants to keep so the contents can be discussed in the written terms.
How do I get an offer, and what happens before I commit?
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. We can talk through the address, condition, access, contents, and estate status. You receive the offer and terms in writing before deciding, and a title company handles the closing process.
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.