Selling an Inherited Home in Hobe Sound: Probate, Homestead and Next Steps

Settling an inherited home in Hobe Sound starts with one detail many families miss: the property is in Martin County, not Palm Beach County. That means a different court, a different property appraiser and a smaller local market. Hobe Sound is an unincorporated community, so there is no town hall to call either. This guide explains how Florida probate and trust sales work for a Hobe Sound house, how homestead rules affect who signs, and how to price an older home or club property in a market with limited listings.

Key takeaways

• Hobe Sound is in Martin County, so probate runs through the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, not the Palm Beach County court.
• With a power of sale in the will, the personal representative can sell without a court order. Without it, the court must authorize or confirm the sale.
• If the home was homestead and the owner left a spouse or minor child, Florida law decides who inherits, and the heirs usually sign.
• Heirs generally take a tax basis equal to market value at the date of death, and Florida has no state estate tax for deaths after 2004.
• Hobe Sound has a small pool of active listings, so careful pricing against true neighbors matters more than broad averages.

Where Hobe Sound fits on the map

Hobe Sound is a census-designated place in southeastern Martin County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Jonathan Dickinson State Park lies to the south. Across the water to the east lies Jupiter Island, which is a separate town with its own government, per the Town of Jupiter Island.

This matters for heirs because services follow county lines. The estate will be handled by Martin County's court, and any homestead or tax questions go to Martin County offices. If your family assumed everything ran through West Palm Beach, adjust the plan now. Our Martin County overview covers the wider area.

Opening probate for an inherited home in Hobe Sound

When the house was in the owner's name alone, probate usually comes first. Martin County is part of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, which also covers Indian River, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. The circuit's Probate and Guardianship Division handles estates for Martin County.

Your attorney files the will and a petition. Then the court appoints a personal representative and issues letters of administration. Those letters are what title companies, banks and buyers rely on.

When a court order is needed to sell

Next, check the will for a power of sale. Under section 733.613, a will that grants a general or specific power to sell lets the representative sell real property without court approval. However, if the will is silent or there is no will, the representative can still sell, but no title passes until the court authorizes or confirms the sale.

Faster options for some estates

Summary administration may be available under section 735.201. It applies when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, is $150,000 or less, or when the owner died more than 2 years ago. Because protected homestead is often exempt, a family with a paid-off house may still qualify. Your attorney will confirm.

Trust sales in Hobe Sound

Many longtime owners near Jupiter Island and in the club communities used a revocable living trust. If the house was deeded to the trust, the successor trustee usually manages the sale without a court case for the home.

The trustee signs the listing, the contract and the deed. Rather than share the full trust, the trustee can provide a certification of trust under section 736.1017. Title companies accept it and rely on it in good faith. As a result, trust sales often reach closing sooner than probate sales.

Homestead rules for an inherited home in Hobe Sound

Florida's homestead rules apply in Martin County just as they do anywhere else in the state. If the house was the owner's primary residence, these rules can change who inherits and who signs.

Under section 732.4015, an owner who left a spouse or minor child could not freely leave the homestead to others. When that limit applies, section 732.401 gives the spouse a life estate and the descendants the remainder. Alternatively, the spouse may elect a one-half interest as a tenant in common within 6 months after the death.

Also, protected homestead is not part of the estate the representative controls, under section 733.608. The representative may still secure and insure an empty homestead. In practice, title companies often want a court order that determines homestead status before insuring a sale, and the heirs who hold title sign the deed.

Taxes heirs should know about

Florida does not charge an estate tax for deaths after December 31, 2004, per the Florida Department of Revenue. So the state will not take a cut of the inheritance.

Federal tax is usually modest on a prompt sale. IRS Publication 551 says your basis in inherited property is generally its fair market value at the date of death. Therefore, a sale soon after the death, at a similar price, may produce little gain. A date-of-death appraisal is worth getting for that reason.

Property taxes are the surprise for many families. Under section 193.155, homestead property is reassessed at just value as of January 1 after a change of ownership. Transfers to a surviving spouse or minor child are exceptions. For a parent who owned in Hobe Sound for decades, the reset can raise the bill sharply.

Pricing an inherited home in Hobe Sound

Hobe Sound is a small market, so every comparison counts. According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, Hobe Sound had 223 active residential listings with a median list price of $549,250 and a median of $303 per square foot. Active listings had been on the market for an average of 142 days. Those are asking prices across houses and condos, so use them as context, not as a value. See the live numbers on our Hobe Sound page.

Older homes, club homes and estates

Housing here ranges widely. Older single-family homes may need roofs, windows or system updates, and buyers will price that in. Homes inside club or gated communities may come with membership rules, transfer steps or fees that affect the buyer pool. Larger estate properties near the water sell to a much smaller group of buyers and often take longer.

Because listings are limited, an agent should compare your home with recent sales of truly similar properties. A nearby sale in a different type of community can mislead you by a wide margin.

Rent or sell?

Some heirs consider renting. According to the same MLS data, Hobe Sound had 85 active rental listings with a median asking rent of $2,550. Weigh that against taxes, insurance, repairs and management before you decide to keep the house.

Preparing an inherited home in Hobe Sound for market

First, secure it. Change locks, keep the AC and power on, and confirm the insurance covers a vacant home. Then let family members claim keepsakes before anything else leaves.

Next, plan the cleanout. Most families use some mix of an estate sale company, a donation pickup and a junk hauler. Get more than one written quote, and ask how each handles items that do not sell.

Finally, focus on repairs buyers and insurers care about:

• Roof age and condition, which affect a buyer's insurance quote.
• The AC system, plumbing and electrical panel.
• Any open permits or work done without permits.
• Curb appeal, since photos drive most first showings.

Timeline for heirs

Under section 733.702, most creditor claims are barred unless filed within 3 months after the notice to creditors is first published. The Florida Bar says a simple estate takes about five or six months to handle properly. Estates with homestead questions or family disputes often take longer.

Even so, listing can start before probate closes once someone has authority to sign. That overlap helps families cut carrying costs, which add up quickly on an empty house.

Frequently asked questions

Which court handles an inherited home in Hobe Sound?

Martin County cases go through the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Palm Beach County's court does not handle a Martin County estate unless the owner lived elsewhere and the case is filed there, so confirm venue with your attorney.

Can the personal representative sell without the heirs' signatures?

If the will grants a power of sale and the house is not protected homestead, often yes. When the home passes as protected homestead, the heirs who hold title usually sign.

Is Hobe Sound part of Jupiter Island?

No. Hobe Sound is an unincorporated area of Martin County. Jupiter Island is a separate town across South Jupiter Narrows.

How long does it take to sell an inherited home in Hobe Sound?

Probate often takes months, and active listings here had averaged 142 days on market as of October 1, 2026. Planning both steps together saves time.

Sources

• Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Probate and Guardianship Division
• Florida Statutes, s. 733.613, personal representative's right to sell real property
• Florida Statutes, s. 735.201, summary administration
• Florida Statutes, s. 736.1017, certification of trust
• Florida Statutes, s. 732.4015, devise of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 732.401, descent of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 733.608, general power of the personal representative
• Florida Department of Revenue, estate tax
• IRS Publication 551, basis of assets
• Florida Statutes, s. 193.155, homestead assessments
• Florida Statutes, s. 733.702, limitations on claims against estates
• The Florida Bar, consumer pamphlet on probate in Florida
• U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Hobe Sound CDP (2020 Census)
• Town of Jupiter Island, community profile

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Probate and homestead outcomes depend on your family's facts, so speak with a Florida attorney and a tax professional.

Handling a family home in Hobe Sound? Book a no-obligation listing consultation with a Hobe Sound specialist. We can price the home against true local comparables and coordinate with your attorney or trustee. Start with a free home valuation. Hoping to buy on the Treasure Coast yourself? Our buyer agents can help with that too. Talk with our team.