Helping you sell an inherited home, with care and clarity.

If the home was held in a living trust, the successor trustee can usually sell it without going through court, which keeps things faster and more private. A probate sale happens when the home was in the owner's name alone, and it's overseen by the court, which can add steps like a confirmation hearing. I'll help you understand which path your situation falls under and what it means for your timeline.

It depends on the path. A home held in a trust can often be sold in a matter of weeks once everyone is ready. A full probate with court confirmation can take several months to over a year, depending on the estate and the court's schedule. Every situation is different, so I'll give you a realistic timeline for yours and work to keep it moving.

You can absolutely sell as-is, and many inherited homes are sold exactly that way, especially when heirs live out of the area or the estate doesn't have cash for repairs. Sometimes a few targeted fixes net more than selling fully untouched, so I usually suggest a pre-listing inspection so we can decide from facts rather than guesswork. Either way, you won't have to manage it alone.

It depends on how the estate is set up and who holds the authority to sell, whether that's a successor trustee or an executor with the right court authority. Disagreements among heirs can slow things down, so getting everyone aligned early really matters. I work alongside your attorney to keep the process clear and the people involved on the same page.

Often less than people expect. Inherited property usually gets what's called a stepped-up basis, meaning its value resets to the fair market value on the date of passing, so you're typically taxed only on gains after that point. If you sell soon after inheriting, the taxable gain is often small. I'm not a tax advisor, so I'll always point you to a good CPA to confirm the specifics for your situation.

They might. Under California's Proposition 19, the home's existing tax basis only carries over if you make it your primary residence within a year, and only up to a capped amount. If you don't move in, the home is generally reassessed at current market value. It's an important detail to get right, so I'll connect you with the right people to check it before you decide.