You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.

What we do with the house and its contents

Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. We can talk through what is in the house and what the family wants to keep; you do not have to clear it out before asking about a sale.

While the estate still owns the house, costs such as utilities, insurance, mortgage payments, and property taxes can continue. A sale can end the ongoing cost of keeping the property, but any mortgage, lien, back taxes, or seller's share of current property taxes is separate from closing costs.

What happens next

1. Tell us the Santa Cruz property address, its condition, what is still inside, and what you know about the estate.
2. We talk through the house and the sale questions, then give you a written offer and written terms before you commit.
3. The title company reviews the estate and property documents, confirms the signing requirements, and coordinates the closing.

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.

Estate signing rules and sale taxes

In a formal California estate, the court-appointed personal representative—the executor or administrator—can sign for the estate. An heir or surviving spouse does not get authority to sign for the estate just from that family relationship.

If the court gives the representative full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, the representative can sell real property 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; at the hearing another buyer may overbid, and a private sale generally must bring at least 90% of a recent appraisal.

Some estates may qualify for a simpler court procedure. A surviving spouse may use a spousal-property petition; for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, an eligible primary residence valued at $750,000 or less may qualify for a primary-residence petition. The court's requirements and the actual estate determine whether either route fits.

California county documentary transfer tax is $0.55 for each $500 or fraction of $500 when consideration is over $100, excluding any lien or loan that remains on the property after the sale—$1.10 per $1,000. A city may take half of that rate as its own share, credited against the county tax; some cities add a larger tax on top. The address, taxable amount, and any exemption affect the calculation, so escrow should confirm the applicable city tax and amount.

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. Recorded loans and liens must be paid or released at closing.

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.

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.

Local help and reviews

The Santa Cruz County Recorder's Office is the local office for property and vital records. Use the county's official directory for current office information.

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

• Santa Cruz County Recorder's Office
• Santa Cruz County departments directory
• California Courts Self-Help: probate and simpler transfers

Santa Cruz trust and reviews guidance explains what to look for when comparing home buyers; it does not claim a local transaction testimonial.

Related: Santa Cruz probate guidance · Santa Cruz seller resources · Santa Cruz market overview