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 can tell us what the family wants to keep so it can be discussed before you commit to written terms. You do not have to arrange a cleanout just to ask about selling.
While a house is held, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep can continue. A written offer gives you a price to compare with those carrying costs and the other ways you could sell.
What happens next
- Share the property address, its condition, who has access, and what you know about the estate.
- We talk through the house, contents, access, and the estate papers you have.
- We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You get the written offer and terms before you commit. If you choose to proceed, closing is handled through a title company.
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 an as-is offer with estimated proceeds from a listing after repairs, selling costs, and time. Adjust the assumptions in the Pittsburgh home-sale calculator to fit the property; its estimate is not a property-specific offer.
Open the Pittsburgh home-sale net proceeds calculator →Pennsylvania estate rules and taxes
Who can sign for the estate
In most estates, the executor can sell the house without going to court. Pennsylvania law gives the executor that power directly. If the will leaves the house to one specific person, that person signs too. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3351.
If the executor is not authorized to sell under Pennsylvania law or the will, the executor can ask the county's Orphans' Court for permission to sell, including property specifically left to someone. The court decides whether the sale is desirable for the estate's administration and distribution. A missing signature alone does not mean the court will approve a sale. It's less common than people fear, and you can call us before you know which applies. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3353.
“Letters testamentary” or “letters of administration” are papers from the county Register of Wills that show who can sign for the estate. You can call us before you have them in hand.
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.
Pennsylvania inheritance tax
Pennsylvania inheritance tax depends on who inherits. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue lists these rates; the actual estate and any applicable exemption determine the tax. See the Pennsylvania inheritance-tax guidance.
| Who inherits | Pennsylvania inheritance tax |
|---|---|
| Spouse | 0% |
| Parent inheriting from a child age 21 or younger | 0% |
| Child age 21 or younger inheriting from a parent who died in 2020 or later | 0% |
| Children, grandchildren, and other direct descendants | 4.5% |
| Brothers and sisters | 12% |
| Most other heirs | 15% |
The tax is owed from the date of death. Paying within three months takes 5% off, and it becomes late after nine months. Many families pay it from the house sale.
Pittsburgh realty transfer tax
Realty transfer tax is separate from inheritance tax. For taxable property inside City of Pittsburgh limits and the Pittsburgh School District, Allegheny County lists a 5% total: 3% city, 1% school, and 1% Commonwealth. A separate Pittsburgh/Baldwin-Whitehall entry in the county's rate table totals 4.5%: 3% city, 0.5% school, and 1% state.
Confirm the parcel's municipality and school district in the Allegheny County property-record search. A Pittsburgh mailing address alone does not establish city jurisdiction or school district. Exemptions and who pays depend on the transaction; review the county transfer-tax guidance and local rate table with the title company for the actual deed.
Allegheny County and Pittsburgh offices
Estate venue depends on the actual estate. If Allegheny County is the venue, use its Wills & Orphans office for probate questions. Its probate and recording counters are at different locations.
Department of Court Records, Wills & Orphans Division
City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. General phone: 412-350-4180.
The Probate Section offers scheduled appointments alongside walk-in service. For scheduling, call 412-350-4195 or email DCRProbate@AlleghenyCounty.us. See the county's probate service notice and probate forms for current details.
Allegheny County recording office
County Office Building, Room 101, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Call 412-350-4636, option 2 for recording questions. The county's recording page has current requirements and fee links.
Use the county parcel-record search to check the property record; confirm the parcel rather than relying on its mailing address.
If the property is inside Pittsburgh city limits
Pittsburgh requires a property certification for a sale or refinance closing. It reports zoning and use, historic designation, and recorded code violations or unsafe conditions; it does not establish lawful occupancy. Read the city's property certification information.
Pittsburgh Water requires Evidence of Compliance paperwork before a city property sale. The department determines whether a dye test is needed; properties in combined-sewer areas do not require the physical test. Illegal stormwater connections in sanitary-sewer areas require correction and retesting before compliance is issued. See Pittsburgh Water's dye-testing guidance.
Questions and contact
Questions about selling an inherited Pittsburgh house
Who can sign to sell an inherited house in Pennsylvania?
In most estates, the executor can sell the house without going to court. If the will leaves the house to one specific person, that person signs too. If the executor is not authorized under Pennsylvania law or the will, the executor can ask the county Orphans’ Court for permission. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for this estate.
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. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
What does Pennsylvania inheritance tax depend on?
The rate depends on who inherits. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue lists 0% for a spouse and certain parent-child transfers, 4.5% for direct descendants, 12% for brothers and sisters, and 15% for most other heirs. The tax is owed from the date of death; paying within three months takes 5% off, and it becomes late after nine months. The estate’s facts determine the actual tax.
What realty transfer tax applies to a Pittsburgh house?
For taxable property inside Pittsburgh city limits and the Pittsburgh School District, Allegheny County lists a 5% total: 3% city, 1% school, and 1% Commonwealth. A separate Pittsburgh/Baldwin-Whitehall entry in the county rate table totals 4.5%. Confirm the parcel’s municipality and school district; exemptions and who pays depend on the transaction.
Do I need to clean out or repair the inherited house first?
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. Tell us what the family wants to keep so it can be discussed before you commit to written terms.
Can I sell from outside Pennsylvania?
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.
Where can I find Allegheny County probate and deed offices?
If Allegheny County is the estate’s venue, its Department of Court Records, Wills & Orphans Division is at 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh. The county recording office is at a different address: County Office Building, Room 101, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh. Estate venue depends on the actual estate, not just the property’s mailing address.
Talk through the property
You can call 888-274-5006 or share the address and what you know about the estate. There is no need to have every document in hand before starting the conversation.
Call 888-274-5006- Pittsburgh home-buying overview
- Pittsburgh seller questions
- Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania resources
- Pittsburgh home-sale calculator
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and estate details you have.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us what you know about the property and estate.