You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.

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. You decide what your family wants to keep; you do not have to empty the house before asking about a sale.

While the house remains in the estate, costs such as utilities, insurance, property taxes, upkeep, and any mortgage payment can continue. A direct-sale offer gives you another price to compare; it does not assume the house was unwanted.

What happens next

1. Talk with us about the Iowa City address, the house’s condition, the contents, and what you know about the estate.
2. We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
3. You can read the written offer and terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, a title company handles the closing and checks title, payoffs, settlement figures, and who may sign for the estate.

Iowa estate rules and taxes

Who can sign for the estate?

An Iowa estate can often sell a house before probate is finished, but the sale normally goes through the court-appointed personal representative, not an heir acting alone. If the will gives the representative power to sell, the usual court-sale steps do not apply. Otherwise, the representative petitions the court and gives notice to interested people unless they waive it in writing, gets an order for the sale, and later files a report for the court’s approval.

A homestead can be sold only as the court directs, and a surviving spouse may have the right to keep it. Mortgages and other liens still have to be paid or released at closing. The title company or a qualified attorney can review the will, appointment, court file, and title to confirm who can sign for this 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.

Iowa inheritance tax

Iowa inheritance tax does not apply to deaths on or after January 1, 2025. An earlier death may be subject to the rules that applied at that time; check the estate’s facts with the Iowa Department of Revenue or a qualified tax professional.

Iowa real estate transfer tax

Iowa real estate transfer tax is 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. Exemptions can apply, so the closing professional confirms whether the tax applies and the taxable amount. By law, the person conveying the property, normally the seller, is liable for the tax. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Iowa real estate transfer tax. Your mortgage, other liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate.

Johnson County estate and deed help

The Johnson County Clerk of Court is the local court-clerk contact route. The Recorder handles recorded land transactions and ownership records; the Treasurer handles property tax accounts, collections, and tax-sale information. These offices can help locate their records, but an office listing does not decide venue or who may sign for a specific property.

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

• Johnson County Clerk of Court — 417 South Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-6060 · countyclerk.johnson@iowacourts.gov
• Johnson County Recorder — 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA 52240-4281; 319-356-6093
• Johnson County Treasurer — 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA 52240-4281; tax phone 319-356-6087

Iowa City inherited-property questions

Talk through the inherited Iowa City house

Call 888-274-5006 or tell us a little about the property below.

We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.