What we do with the house and its contents
USA Home Buyers buys inherited houses in San Francisco, San Francisco County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. San Francisco has older row houses, attached homes, and small multi-unit buildings; tell us what kind of property you inherited and what is inside.
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. You can tell us which belongings the family wants to keep; the written terms can spell out what stays with the house.
While an estate holds a house, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep can keep adding to its carrying costs. You do not have to finish repairs or clear out the contents before asking us about a sale.
What happens next
- Tell us the San Francisco property address, its condition, what is happening with the contents, and what estate information you already have.
- We talk through the property and your questions, then give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
- Review the written offer and terms before you decide. If you choose to proceed, a title company handles closing and confirms the deed, estate authority, required signatures, payoffs, and closing details.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company 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.
Compare what you may keep
The offer is one number; the estate's mortgage payoff, liens, taxes, and other costs affect the amount left after closing. Put your own assumptions into the San Francisco net-proceeds calculator and compare possible outcomes.
Open the San Francisco net-proceeds calculator →Who can sign, and what California rules may apply
In a California probate sale, the court-appointed personal representative—the executor or administrator—is the person who signs for the estate. Check the court appointment to see whether it gives the representative full or limited authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA).
With full authority, the representative can sell without a court confirmation hearing by 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 sale of real property requires court supervision; at the confirmation hearing, others may overbid, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal.
Some surviving spouses or heirs may qualify for a simpler court petition. For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, a petition for a decedent's primary residence may be available when the residence is valued at $750,000 or less. Whether that route fits depends on the estate and property; the court or a qualified attorney can review the actual facts.
Recorded loans and liens must be paid or released at closing. The title company can confirm the payoff and documents needed 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.
California documentary transfer tax
California counties charge documentary transfer tax of $0.55 for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500, when consideration is over $100, not counting a lien or loan that remains on the property after the sale. Some cities add a city transfer tax. The applicable local tax and taxable amount depend on the transfer, so ask the title company or escrow to confirm them.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate.
San Francisco estate and deed resources
San Francisco is one county. The Assessor-Recorder is the local county office; use its official page for current office information. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder
Official San Francisco County office information for local property and deed questions.
Open the official source →California Courts: When formal probate may not be needed
State court self-help information about simpler ways some property can pass after a death.
Open the official source →California Probate Code § 10511 — Sale with full authority
State law covering a personal representative’s sale of real property with full authority.
Open the official source →California Probate Code § 10501 — Court supervision with limited authority
State law describing actions that require court supervision when authority is limited.
Open the official source →California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911 — Documentary transfer tax
State law setting the county documentary transfer tax rate.
Open the official source →California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11931 — City transfer tax credit
State law on how a city tax may be credited against the county documentary transfer tax.
Open the official source →What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Related San Francisco resources
Ask about the inherited San Francisco house
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property, or send the address and a few details in the form.
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
Can I sell an inherited San Francisco house before probate is finished?
Often, yes. Once the estate is opened, a court-appointed personal representative may be able to sell in the estate’s name. Whether a court hearing or notice is required depends on the authority granted and the estate’s circumstances.
Who can sign for an inherited house in California?
Only the court-appointed personal representative—the executor or administrator—can sign for the estate. Check the current court appointment to see whether the representative has full or limited authority; an heir’s relationship to the person who died does not by itself make that heir the estate’s signer.
Do I need to put the inherited house in my own 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. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who has authority to sign for this estate.
What is the difference between full and limited authority?
With full authority, a personal representative can generally sell without a court confirmation hearing after giving heirs and beneficiaries at least 15 days’ notice; an objection sends the sale into court supervision. With limited authority, a real-property sale requires court supervision, and a private sale generally must reach at least 90% of a recent appraisal at the confirmation hearing.
Do I have to clear out belongings or make repairs first?
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us what the family wants to keep so the written terms can address the contents.
Can I sign from outside San Francisco?
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.
Who pays the transfer tax and closing costs?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax. Your mortgage, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate. The title company or escrow can confirm the applicable tax and taxable amount for the property.
Can USA Home Buyers tell me who has legal authority to sell?
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.
Ready to discuss the property?
Call 888-274-5006 or request a written cash offer with the form.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation.
Related: Probate in San Francisco · San Francisco home-sale options