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.
Your family can keep the belongings it wants. We can discuss what stays in the house as part of the written terms. While an estate owns the property, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep can continue as carrying costs. Selling is one option; the house may still matter to your family.
What happens next
- Tell us the New York City address, the house’s condition, who has access, what contents may stay, and what estate papers you have.
- We talk through the property and your questions, then give you a written cash offer and written terms before you commit.
- If you choose to proceed, the title company handles closing and reviews the deed and estate papers needed for the transaction.
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 keep after the sale
Compare the written offer with a possible listing net and change the calculator assumptions for your property, including repairs, commissions, and carrying costs.
Open the New York City home-sale net-proceeds calculator →New York estate rules and taxes
An executor or administrator appointed by Surrogate’s Court can generally sell estate property during administration, subject to the will and court restrictions. Being named executor in a will is not the same as having the court’s appointment. If the will leaves the house to a specific person, that property is outside the estate representative’s general sale power; the sale usually needs that person’s agreement or a court order. Some court papers also bar a sale without court approval.
Some New York houses pass outside probate through a valid transfer-on-death deed. The deed and estate papers determine who can sign. If a New York State estate-tax lien applies, a release is generally needed to close.
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.
For a sale price above $500, New York State real estate transfer tax is $2 for each $500 of the price, or part of $500. The seller normally pays this base tax, but the sale agreement can provide otherwise. Local transfer taxes may add to it. A separate 1% mansion tax applies to residential sales of $1 million or more and is normally paid by the buyer.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including New York State real estate transfer tax and any applicable local real estate transfer taxes. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
- New York estate sale powers — EPTL § 11-1.1
- Surrogate’s Court appointment and authority — SCPA § 703
- Surrogate’s Court real-estate sale procedure — SCPA § 1902
- Transfer-on-death deeds — RPL § 424
- New York estate-tax lien release
- New York State real estate transfer tax
- New York City real property transfer-tax guidance
Local estate and deed help, plus seller reviews
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Use the NY Courts NYC Surrogate’s Courts directory for local estate-court contact information. The court file, deed, and estate papers determine who may sign; an office route does not determine a particular property’s title, probate venue, or signer.
NYC Surrogate’s Courts
Official court-contact information for estate matters in New York City.
NYC City Register and ACRIS
The City Register’s ACRIS page covers property-record service for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens and lists the related county offices.
City Register office locations
- Bronx County — Bronx County Office3030 3rd Avenue, 2nd floor, Bronx, NY 10455
- Kings County (Brooklyn) — Kings County Office210 Joralemon Street, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- New York County (Manhattan) — New York County Office66 John Street, 13th floor, New York, NY 10038
- Queens County — Queens County Office144-06 94th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens, NY 11435
For Staten Island (Richmond County), NYC Finance describes electronic RPTT filing through ACRIS and a paper route through the Richmond County Clerk. If the return is not filed when the deed is recorded, or the deed is not yet recorded, the paper return may instead be filed at any City Register office. This filing route does not decide title or who may sign.
NYC real property transfer-tax filing instructions → NYC property-tax bills and notices →
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys. Each review shows its actual location.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Questions and contact
Questions about selling an inherited house in New York City
Can an executor sell an inherited New York City house before the estate is finished?
Often, yes. An executor or administrator appointed by Surrogate’s Court can generally sell estate property during administration, subject to the will and court restrictions. A house the will leaves to a specific person is outside that sale power, so the sale usually needs that person’s agreement or a court order. Some court papers also bar a sale without court approval.
Does being named executor in the will let me sign?
Not by itself. Being named executor in a will is not the same as having the Surrogate’s Court appointment. The court appointment, deed, will, and any court papers determine who can sign for this property.
Do I have to put the house in my 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. Some houses pass outside probate through a valid transfer-on-death deed, so the deed and estate papers determine who can sign.
Do I need to empty or repair the inherited house first?
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. Your family can keep the belongings it wants; the remaining contents can be addressed in the written terms.
What transfer taxes may apply to a New York City house sale?
For a sale price above $500, New York State real estate transfer tax is $2 for each $500 of the price, or part of $500. The seller normally pays this base tax, but the sale agreement can provide otherwise; local transfer taxes may add to it. A separate 1% mansion tax applies to residential sales of $1 million or more and is normally paid by the buyer. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including New York State real estate transfer tax and any applicable local real estate transfer taxes. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
Can I sign from outside New York?
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.
What happens after I ask about an offer?
We talk through the New York City property, its condition, access, contents, and the estate papers you have. We give you a written cash offer and written terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, the sale closes through a title company.
Talk through the inherited New York City house
Call 888-274-5006 or share the borough and property address through the form.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and what is happening with the estate.