Situations
You inherited a house and it has to go through probate
The estate has to be settled and the house is part of it.
What we know about this
This is one of the most common reasons people call us, and we have closed these across the states we buy in, through Surrogate's Court in New York and New Jersey, Probate Court in Connecticut, the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the Circuit Court in Florida.
The house cannot transfer until the estate has the authority to sell it. That timeline belongs to the court, not to us, and we are not going to pretend we can speed it up. What we can do is be ready when the estate is, and wait without pressuring you.
Most people in this situation are also dealing with a house full of someone's belongings, siblings who do not all agree, and a property that has been sitting empty. You do not need to clear the house out. You do not need to sort through anything. We take it as it is.
If you live out of state, which is common, you do not need to fly in. Our representative walks the property and your side of the closing is handled by your attorney or by the title company, depending on the state.
What to tell us on the first call
- Where the estate stands, whether an executor or administrator has been appointed
- Whether anyone is living in the house
- Whether there are other heirs who need to agree to a sale
- Whether there is a mortgage still being paid
How fast this usually moves
The court sets the pace here, not us. Some estates are ready in weeks and some take months. Once the estate can sell, we close within 20 business days, about four weeks.
Talk it through with us
Tell us the details and we will tell you honestly what is workable.