What we do with the house and its contents
An inherited home can keep adding property-tax bills, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and mortgage payments while the estate is being sorted out. 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. Keep the items the family wants; you do not have to empty the house before selling to us.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You receive the written offer and terms before you commit, and the sale closes through a title company.
What happens next
- Tell us about the house, its condition, and what is still in it. We can talk through a cash sale while the estate paperwork is being reviewed.
- We give you a written cash offer and written terms. You can review them before deciding whether to proceed.
- If you choose to sell, the title company checks the title and estate documents, confirms who can sign, and coordinates the deed and closing.
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
Compare a written offer with your likely net from another sale path, including the costs and carrying expenses that apply to your house. The calculator uses editable assumptions; it is an estimate, not a title review or a property-specific offer.
Open the San Diego net-proceeds calculator →California estate authority and taxes
Often, yes, an inherited California house can be sold before probate is finished. For an estate sale, only the court-appointed personal representative — the executor or administrator — can sign for the estate. The authority granted by the court determines the sale process.
With full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, the representative can sell without a court confirmation hearing after giving heirs and beneficiaries a Notice of Proposed Action at least 15 days before acting. If someone objects, the sale goes through court supervision. With limited authority, a real-property sale needs court supervision: the court confirms the sale at a hearing where others may overbid, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal. See the California rules for sales with full authority, notice of proposed action, objections, court-supervised actions, and the 90% appraisal rule.
Some surviving spouses or heirs may qualify for a simpler court procedure, such as a spousal property petition. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, California Courts describes a primary-residence petition for qualifying homes valued up to $750,000. The court's simple-transfer guidance explains these options; it does not determine whether a particular estate qualifies.
California counties generally charge documentary transfer tax of $0.55 for each $500 of taxable value, or fraction of $500, on covered consideration over $100. A city may collect a credited share, and some cities impose an additional tax. The purchase agreement may allocate the cost; escrow can confirm the property's city, any exemption, and the taxable amount. See the state rules for county transfer-tax rates, responsibility for the tax, and city tax credits.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax.
Recorded loans and liens must be paid or released at closing. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate from the closing costs we pay.
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.
San Diego County offices for estate and property records
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
Superior Court of California, County of San Diego — Probate Business Office
Central Courthouse, 1100 Union St., San Diego, CA 92101, Third Floor. Phone: (619) 844-2676.
Probate Business Office information →San Diego County Recorder/County Clerk
County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 260, San Diego, CA 92101. The Recorder handles real-property recording; check current instructions for documents and fees.
San Diego County Assessor
County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92101. Assessment and property-record inquiries are separate from deed recording.
Assessor office information →San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector
Use the county's tax-collection page for property-tax bill and payment information. It does not check a particular parcel's balance.
Property-tax collection information →We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation.
Questions About Selling an Inherited House in San Diego
Can I sell an inherited San Diego house before probate is complete?
Often, yes. For a sale by the estate, the court-appointed personal representative (executor or administrator) signs for it. The authority granted in the estate and the title record determine whether court supervision is needed.
Do I have to put the 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. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm the signer and deed for the specific estate.
What changes if the representative has full or limited authority?
With full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, a representative can sell without a court confirmation hearing after giving heirs and beneficiaries a Notice of Proposed Action at least 15 days before acting; an objection sends the sale through court supervision. With limited authority, a real-property sale needs court supervision, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal.
Can a spouse or heir use a simpler California court procedure?
Some surviving spouses or heirs may qualify for a simplified court procedure, including a spousal property petition. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, a primary-residence petition may be available for a residence valued up to $750,000. Eligibility depends on the facts and current court requirements.
Do I have to clear the contents or make repairs?
No cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings is required to sell to us. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
What happens to a mortgage or liens on the inherited house?
A recorded loan or lien does not disappear when a house is inherited. The title company confirms the payoff or release needed at closing. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate from our payment of closing costs.
What documentary transfer tax applies in California?
California counties generally charge documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 of taxable value, or fraction of $500, on covered consideration over $100. City taxes, exemptions, the taxable amount, and allocation can depend on the property and transaction; escrow can confirm the applicable amount.
Can I sign from outside San Diego?
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. Remote signing does not change who has authority to sign for the estate.
Related San Diego resources
California estate procedures, office routes, and tax rules can change. Confirm current requirements with the court, title company, escrow, or a qualified attorney for the specific property and estate.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation.