Suffolk County Probate and Family Court
Use the court's official page for Suffolk County probate and estate matters.
Boston, MA · Suffolk County · How the process works
How Selling Your Boston House to Us Works
USA Home Buyers buys houses in Boston and Suffolk County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us what you know about the house and the sale; you can start before every property question is settled.
We talk through the property, put the offer and terms in writing, and use a title-company closing. You can call before you have every document or answer.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk about the house.
Tell us about the houseWe'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address, condition, occupancy, and timing. Start with what you know.
Seller reviews
Read homeowner reviews
See what sellers say about working with us
From first conversation to settlement
The Boston sale process, step by step
Step 1: Start with what you know about the house
Share the Boston address, condition, who lives there, access, timing, and any ownership, payoff, lien, tax, or notice questions you already know about. You can start before every property question is settled; tell us what is still unknown and we can talk it through.
Step 2: Talk through the property and get a written offer
We discuss the house as it sits, including condition, access, occupancy, and timing. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Step 3: Read the written terms before you decide
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. Compare the price, possession, timing, responsibilities, and property-specific conditions. Ask questions and decide whether to proceed or choose another path.
Step 4: Let the title company work through ownership and payoffs
If you choose to proceed, the title company reviews the deed, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and the documents needed for settlement. The lender or tax office confirms its current balance and payoff instructions. Bring the statements, notices, or estate papers you have; you can start the conversation before every record is collected.
Step 5: Review the settlement sheet and close
A settlement sheet shows how the sale money breaks down. We always review the settlement sheet with the seller and walk through how the money breaks down so there is no confusion. We try to do that the day before closing so settlement is smooth; the title company confirms the final numbers.
You're going to get a fair price and not have to do anything. Just show up at settlement.
Cash Offer or EZ Sale: compare the written numbers
We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
Swipe across the table to compare all four selling options.
| Factor | List with a realtor | FSBO | Cash Offer | EZ Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Market-dependent | Market-dependent | 30 days or less | 60 days or less |
| Price | Highest, if it sells | Varies | Lower price | Higher price than the Cash Offer |
| Repairs | Repairs may be needed before listing or after inspection | The seller handles repair decisions | No repairs | No repairs |
| Commissions | Agent commissions apply under the listing agreement | No listing-agent commission; the seller handles the sale | No commissions | No commissions |
| Closing costs | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | No closing costs | No closing costs |
| Showings | The seller prepares for and coordinates showings | The seller markets the property and coordinates showings | None | None |
| Who buys | Retail buyer | Retail buyer | USA Home Buyers buys directly | Goes to one of our partners |
| Certainty | Depends on the buyer, inspections, financing, and contract | Depends on finding and qualifying a buyer | Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. | Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. |
| Net proceeds | Compare the expected sale price after commissions, repairs, costs, and waiting | Compare the expected sale price after seller-managed costs and work | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. |
Compare what you would keep after costs with the Boston calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
Boston and Suffolk County details
Estate authority, recorded documents, and open notices
Often, yes: an inherited Massachusetts house may be sold before the estate is fully settled. When the sale is through the estate, the deed normally needs to be signed by the personal representative appointed by the Probate and Family Court; being an heir or named in a will is not enough by itself. For the sale to be conclusive, the will must give the representative power to sell or the court must issue a license. If there is no will, a license is required.
A surviving spouse or minor children may have a homestead right that affects who must sign. A Massachusetts estate-tax lien may also need to be cleared with a Department of Revenue release certificate or, when no estate-tax return is required, a recorded affidavit. The title company reviews the documents for the property. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.
The Suffolk Registry of Deeds provides public land records, but a recorded document is not a current payoff amount. The lender, creditor, or tax office named in a notice confirms its current balance and instructions. A mortgage-foreclosure matter and a property-tax matter can have different notices and deadlines, so follow each notice separately.
Massachusetts personal-representative authority ↗License to sell estate real estate ↗Massachusetts homestead law ↗Massachusetts estate-tax forms and instructions ↗
Suffolk Registry of Deeds
Search the official public land-records portal for recorded Suffolk County documents.
Closing figures
See what the sale price leaves after closing items
The settlement sheet shows the sale price and the amounts scheduled for mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, closing costs, and payment to you. Ask about any line you do not recognize; the title company confirms the final figures.
Massachusetts calls its deed transfer charge the deeds excise. For a sale price over $100, the standard Boston rate is $2.28 for each $500 or fraction of $500, which works out to $4.56 per $1,000. The excise is paid when the deed is recorded. State law places it on the person signing the deed, which in a sale is the seller; the closing professional confirms the amount for the transaction. Read the Massachusetts deeds-excise rate ↗ and who is subject to the excise ↗.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
Your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate from closing costs.
Compare possible sale proceeds and your assumptions with the Boston home-sale net-proceeds calculator →
When things get difficult
We stay with the process
It's real estate. Sometimes there are bumps in the road. We won't disappear when that happens, and we'll be fighting to get this to the closing table.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“The three-decker on Charlton Street had a chimney collapse in February — took out the back wall of the second floor. Structural damage, water intrusion from the open wall. My insurance company offered $37,000. Contractor said $61,000. I'm not fighting that battle. USA Home Buyers made a fair offer the next day. Closed in nine days.”
“Massachusetts foreclosure is non-judicial — the lender can foreclose by advertisement without going to court, and it can happen in as little as three months. I was behind and didn't realize how fast it would move. USA Home Buyers explained the timeline and had a written offer the same day I called. Closed in eleven days. Foreclosure cancelled.”
“I had a rental on Grafton Street that I'd been managing for eight years. Problem tenant, lead paint issues, city notices piling up. I couldn't afford to fix it and didn't want to go through eviction. USA Home Buyers bought it as-is with the tenant still there. Done in 11 days.”
Questions about the Boston sale process
Can I contact you before every question about my Boston house is settled?
Yes. Start with the address and what you know about condition, occupancy, access, and timing. You can tell us which answers are still unknown and begin the conversation now.
What do I receive before deciding whether to sell?
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
What is the difference between a Cash Offer and EZ Sale?
Cash Offer is bought directly by USA Home Buyers, is 30 days or less, and is the lower-price option. EZ Sale goes to one of our partners, is 60 days or less, and is higher price than the Cash Offer. Both have no repairs, no commissions, and no closing costs. You compare the written numbers and choose what works for you.
Where can I check Suffolk County property records?
The Suffolk Registry of Deeds has a public land-records portal. A recorded document is not the same as a current payoff balance; ask the lender, creditor, or tax office named on a notice for current figures and instructions.
Who pays the Massachusetts deeds excise and other closing costs?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate.