You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.
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.
Wheeling, WV · Ohio County and Marshall County · Inherited property
Call 888-274-5006 to talk about the propertyWe'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us the address, what is in the house, and what you know about the estate.
What we do with an inherited house
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Wheeling and the Wheeling market in Ohio and Marshall counties, West Virginia. 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 set aside the things you want to keep; tell us what may stay so the written terms are clear.
While a house is being held, property taxes, insurance, utilities, upkeep, and any mortgage payment can keep coming due. We do not assume you want to sell. If you decide to compare a sale, we can review the house as-is so you can weigh an offer against those carrying costs and the work of listing.
What happens next
- 1. Talk through the property. Share the address, condition, contents, and what estate paperwork you have. You can call or use the form; you do not need to finish a cleanout first.
- 2. Get a written offer to compare. We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You can read the offer and written terms before you commit.
- 3. Close through a title company. The title company checks the deed, estate authority, required signatures, and closing records, then coordinates the settlement. Those property records and the estate file determine the steps and timing.
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.
See what you might keep
Compare an as-is cash sale with a listing estimate after repairs, carrying costs, and closing costs. Use assumptions that fit the house instead of relying on a generic number.
Open the Wheeling home-sale net-proceeds calculator →West Virginia estate rules and taxes
An executor—the person named in a will to handle the estate—must qualify before acting for it. When there is no will, the county commission or its clerk handles the appointment of an administrator, the person appointed to manage the estate. See W. Va. Code § 44-1-1 and § 44-1-4.
If the will gives the executor power to sell real estate that was not specifically left to someone else, the executor may sell it unless the will says otherwise. If the will directs a sale, the executor or an administrator with the will annexed may carry it out. See § 44-8-1. Without a usable power of sale, have the title company or an attorney confirm who owns the property and who must sign. When there is no will, the real estate passes to the heirs under § 42-1-2.
A decedent’s real estate can still be reached to pay the decedent’s debts. A surviving spouse may also have a right to an elective share for a limited time after death. See § 44-8-7, § 42-3-1, and § 42-3-4. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm who must sign and which 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.
West Virginia charges a real estate transfer excise tax. The first county tax is $1.10 per $500 or fraction of value. An additional county tax of 55 cents per $500 applies, and the county commission may raise that additional tax to as much as $1.65. The county clerk also collects a $20 Affordable Housing Fund fee before recording. Each $500 or fraction counts, and the value includes liens the buyer takes over. See § 11-22-2 and § 11-22-1. The additional county rate can vary.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the West Virginia real estate transfer excise tax and the additional county excise tax. This does not pay your mortgage, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes.
Local help and reviews
If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one. The right county office depends on the estate and property records; these official clerk links are starting points for Wheeling’s Ohio County and Marshall County sides.
Testimonials are real, from our transactions, verified and approved by our attorneys.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“Howard worked at Home Savings Bank for twenty-eight years. When he retired, we talked about downsizing for two years before we actually did it. The property tax on our Canfield Road house was $3,800 a year, and with both of us on fixed incomes that added up. USA Home Buyers closed in seven days. We're in a smaller place in Boardman with half the maintenance.”
“I got behind on payments after losing my warehouse job. The lender filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court and I didn't know what to do. USA Home Buyers explained the Ohio judicial foreclosure timeline, made a written offer the next morning, and we closed before the case moved to summary judgment. I walked away with money instead of losing everything.”
“The house on Michigan Avenue had been in Clara's family since 1951. When the waterline under the street broke, water backed up through the foundation and we had standing water in the basement for four days. Mold, foundation damage, HVAC destroyed. We're both past seventy and we couldn't put $40,000 into a house we'd been thinking about leaving anyway. Closed in ten days.”
Questions about selling an inherited house
Can an executor sell an inherited West Virginia house before probate is finished?
Often, yes, but the will and estate appointment determine who may sign. An executor must qualify before acting for the estate. If the will gives the executor power to sell real estate that was not specifically left to someone else, the executor may sell it unless the will says otherwise. If the will directs a sale, the executor or administrator with the will annexed may carry it out. The title company or a qualified attorney can confirm the signer for the specific property.
Who can sign if there is no will?
Without a will, West Virginia real estate passes to the heirs, and the county commission or its clerk handles appointment of an administrator. The appointment does not by itself identify every owner or required signer. The title company or a qualified attorney can review the deed and estate file. A decedent’s real estate can also be reached to pay debts, and a surviving spouse may have an elective-share claim for a limited time after death.
Do I need to put the inherited house in my own name before selling?
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 will, appointment, deed, and title review determine whether the estate has authority to sell and who must sign. 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.
What West Virginia transfer taxes apply?
West Virginia charges a real estate transfer excise tax. The first county tax is $1.10 per $500 or fraction of value, plus an additional county tax of 55 cents per $500 that the county commission may raise to as much as $1.65. A $20 Affordable Housing Fund fee is collected before recording. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the West Virginia real estate transfer excise tax and the additional county excise tax. This does not pay your mortgage, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes.
Can I sign from outside West Virginia?
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.
Do I have to clean out or repair the house first?
Sell an inherited house without cleanout, repairs, or hauling away a lifetime of belongings — we take it as it is. You can set aside the items you want to keep and tell us what may stay so the written terms are clear.
Talk with us about the Wheeling house
Call 888-274-5006 or send the address and what you know about the house and estate.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Tell us about the property and the estate records you have.