Selling an Inherited House in Salisbury, MD

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. We buy houses in Salisbury and Wicomico County. You can take the belongings you want to keep; we can buy the house with the rest still there.

Property taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep can continue while an estate is being settled. Compare those carrying costs with a written offer and your other options for the house.

What happens next

1. Tell us about the house, its condition, the contents, and what you know about the estate. You can talk through the property before deciding what to do.
2. We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You get the written offer and written terms before you commit.
3. If you choose to move forward, a title company handles the closing. The estate papers, deed, authority to sign, title work, and any payoffs determine what is needed before 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.

Maryland estate authority and sale taxes

Who can sell for the estate?

Usually, yes: once the estate is opened, the personal representative appointed in the probate case can sell the house for the estate. The representative is the executor named in the will or, if there is no will, an administrator appointed for the estate—not the heirs simply because they are family. Maryland law puts the decedent's property in the personal representative's hands to manage and distribute. Unless the will or a court order limits that authority, the representative can sell estate property without court approval or ratification. If the will restricts a sale or family members disagree, the representative can ask the court for permission. Maryland also protects a buyer who deals in good faith with the personal representative.

Maryland law: property passing to the personal representative, powers to sell without court approval, asking the court for permission, and protection for people dealing with the representative.

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.

Inheritance tax

Maryland's 10% inheritance tax may apply when the house passes to someone outside the close-family exemptions, such as a niece, nephew, or friend. The Register of Wills handles inheritance-tax questions; whether tax is due depends on the beneficiary and transfer. A mortgage or other lien is separate and is handled through the sale's closing file.

See the Maryland Registers of Wills inheritance-tax information.

Maryland transfer and recordation taxes

Maryland's state transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price. Each county and Baltimore City sets its own recordation tax, and many counties also charge a county transfer tax, so local amounts depend on the property's county and current rates. The taxes are presumed to be split equally unless the contract says otherwise. For a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home, the state rate drops to 0.25% and the seller pays all of it, plus recordation and local transfer taxes, unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt; confirm the amount and allocation with the settlement company.

Maryland law: state transfer-tax rates, county recordation taxes, and tax-payment allocation.

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Maryland's state transfer tax, recordation tax and any applicable county transfer tax.

Your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.

Local estate, deed, and tax help

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

Related Salisbury resources