Inherited property · Houston, TX

Sell an inherited house in Houston — without cleaning it out, managing repairs, or flying back and forth.

Inheriting a home often means inheriting a house full of belongings, deferred maintenance, ongoing bills, and paperwork — sometimes shared with siblings, sometimes from across the country. Here's what's involved in selling it, and how we make it simple.

Authority to sell

Who can sign, and what has to happen first

General information for Houston-area homeowners, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm details for your situation with a Texas attorney, title company, or tax professional.

There's a will

The will usually needs to be probated in the county probate court so the executor has legal authority to sell. Harris County has dedicated probate courts, and independent administration — common in Texas — lets the executor sell without court approval for each step.

There's no will

Texas intestacy rules determine the heirs. Options include a court determination of heirship, an administration, or — for straightforward cases — an affidavit of heirship recorded in the county property records, which some title companies accept after a waiting period.

Small estates

For estates under the statutory limit with no will, a small-estate affidavit may be available. Whether it works for real property depends on the specifics, so ask a probate attorney or title company.

Transfer on death deed or survivorship

If the owner recorded a transfer-on-death deed, or the property was held with a right of survivorship, the new owner may be able to sell after recording a death certificate and affidavit, without probate.

Multiple heirs

Selling when the house is shared

When several heirs own a house together, all of them generally need to agree and sign to sell. That works fine when everyone is aligned. When one heir lives in the house, one wants to keep it, or one can't be reached, the sale can stall. Options include one heir buying out the others, a written agreement on how to divide proceeds, or — as a last resort — a partition action in court.

We regularly close with multiple sellers in different cities and states. Documents can be signed remotely with a mobile notary, and proceeds are split by the title company according to ownership.

Carrying costs

The costs of holding an inherited house

Property taxes — the homestead exemption generally doesn't carry over to heirs who don't live there, so the tax bill can rise
Insurance — vacant-home policies cost more and standard policies may lapse if the house sits empty
Utilities, lawn care, and basic upkeep to avoid city violations
Mortgage payments if there's a loan; federal rules generally let an heir take over an existing mortgage, but payments continue
Security — vacant houses attract break-ins and squatters

Taxes

A note on capital gains

Under current federal rules, inherited property generally receives a “stepped-up” cost basis — its value at the date of death — so selling soon after inheriting often results in little or no capital gain. Texas has no state income tax. This is general information; confirm your situation with a tax professional before making decisions.

How we help

What selling an inherited house to us looks like

Leave the contents

Take the keepsakes; we handle everything else after closing. No estate sale or cleanout required.

No repairs, no updates

Decades of deferred maintenance is normal for an inherited home. We buy it as-is.

Remote closing

Executors and heirs out of state can sign with a mobile notary. You don't need to travel.

Title help

We work with Houston title companies that handle estate transfers regularly and can tell you early exactly what documents are needed.

How it works

How selling to us works in Houston

1
Tell us about the property
Enter the address and answer a few quick questions. It takes about two minutes, and you don't need to know anything about the market.
2
We review it and talk
We look at the property and comparable sales, and may reach out for a few details or a quick walk-through. No pressure, no obligation.
3
Get an offer and pick your closing date
If the property fits what we buy, we'll make a clear cash offer. Accept it or not — and if you do, close on the timeline that works for you.

FAQ

Questions Houston homeowners ask

Can I sell before probate is finished?

Generally the executor or administrator needs court authority before closing, but you can get an offer, sign a contract subject to that authority, and line everything up so closing happens as soon as it's granted.

One sibling won't respond. Can we still sell?

All owners typically need to sign. A probate attorney can advise on options, including partition. We can wait while that's resolved and hold our offer open within reason.

The house still has a mortgage. What happens?

The loan is paid off from the sale proceeds at closing. If the balance is close to the value, tell us — we'll be straightforward about whether a sale makes sense.

Do I have to clean out my parent's house first?

No. Many sellers take what matters to them and leave the rest to us. There's no rush and no judgment.

Do you buy houses from out-of-state heirs?

Yes, routinely. The whole process can be handled by phone, email, and a notary who comes to you.

Other Houston situations we help with

See everything we buy in Houston and Harris County.

See what we could pay for your Houston house.

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