Selling an Inherited House in San Jose, CA

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 the written terms can say what stays with the house.

Holding a house can mean continuing utilities, property taxes, insurance, upkeep, and any mortgage payments while the estate is being handled. Considering a sale is one option to compare; it does not assume the house was unwanted.

We talk through the San Jose address, the house’s condition, its contents, the estate paperwork you have, and what the family wants to keep. We give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. You receive written offer and written terms before you commit; if you choose to proceed, the 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.

Often, an inherited California house can be sold before probate is finished. The person who signs for the estate is its court-appointed personal representative — the executor or administrator — not simply any heir. The title company or a qualified attorney can check the appointment, authority, deed, and title for this house.

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. See California Probate Code § 10511, § 10586 and § 10589.

With limited authority, a sale of real property needs court supervision and confirmation. Other buyers may overbid at the hearing, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal. See California Probate Code § 10501 and § 10309.

Some surviving spouses or heirs may qualify for simpler court procedures, including a spousal property petition or, for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, a primary-residence petition for a home worth up to $750,000. The California Courts explain when formal probate may not be needed. Recorded loans and liens must be paid or released at closing.

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 counties charge documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 of value, or fraction of $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), when taxable consideration is over $100. A lien or loan that remains on the property after the sale is not counted in that consideration. A city may take half of the county rate as a credit against it, while some cities add a larger tax on top. The county recorder collects the tax when the deed is recorded. State law identifies a person who signs or benefits from the deed as responsible for the tax, but the purchase agreement can allocate the cost between buyer and seller. Escrow should confirm the property's county, any city tax, taxable amount, and whether an exemption applies. See California Revenue and Taxation Code § 11911, § 11912 and § 11931. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the county documentary transfer tax and any city transfer tax. This does not pay the seller’s mortgage, liens, back taxes, or share of current property taxes.