Free tool
What will each heir actually receive from selling an inherited house?
Between the mortgage, back taxes, estate costs, and selling costs, the number that reaches the heirs is usually well below the sale price. This tool walks from sale price to per-heir share so the family can plan with real numbers.
Results
Enter your numbers and press Calculate. Nothing here is an offer or an appraisal.
How it's calculated
The math, in plain language
Formula
- Net to estate = sale price − selling costs − repairs/cleanout − mortgage and liens − delinquent taxes − probate/legal costs − other estate debts − carrying costs while held.
- Per-heir share = net ÷ number of heirs. Real distributions follow the will or Texas intestacy rules and may not be equal.
- Capital gains are not modeled: inherited property generally receives a stepped-up basis to date-of-death value, so gains on a prompt sale are often small — confirm with a tax professional.
Assumptions and limits
- Defaults are examples only. Enter the real payoff amounts from the lender, tax office, and any lienholders.
- Delinquent Harris County taxes grow with penalties, interest, and collection fees; use the current balance from the tax office, not last year's bill.
- Selling directly to a cash buyer typically removes the commission and much of the prep cost — set those fields accordingly to compare.
- This tool is for general planning only. It is not an offer, an appraisal, or legal, tax, or financial advice. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter.
FAQ
Common questions
Does the estate have to pay the mortgage before selling?
No — the loan is paid off from the proceeds at closing. Keep making payments until then if you can, to avoid foreclosure and fees.
What about income tax on the sale?
Under current federal law, inherited property generally gets a stepped-up basis, so tax on a quick sale is often minimal. Texas has no state income tax. This is general information; ask a CPA.
One heir wants to keep the house. How does that work?
That heir typically buys out the others based on a net figure like the one above, often with a refinance. Your attorney can structure it.
Can we sell before probate is done?
Usually the estate needs authority (an executor or administrator) before closing, but the sale can be lined up in parallel. See our inherited-house guide.
Keep going
Related tools and guides
More free tools
- Cost to sell a house
Every common selling cost itemized — commission, closing, prep, concessions, holding — and your resulting net.
- Cash offer vs. listing calculator
Side-by-side net proceeds: a cash offer today versus listing with an agent after costs and time.
- As-is offer estimator
Work backward from after-repair value to see what an as-is offer range looks like and why.
Houston guides
- Inherited house
What has to happen before an inherited home can be sold in Texas, how heirs and probate fit in, and how to sell it as-is from anywhere.
- Behind on property taxes
How Texas tax delinquency and tax foreclosure work in Harris County, and how a sale clears it.
- Hoarder house
How to sell a home full of belongings without cleaning it out, and what to expect from the process.
Want to discuss an actual offer?
The calculator uses your guesses. We use real comparable sales and a walkthrough. Enter the address — it's free and there's no obligation.