Selling an Inherited Home in Palm Springs: Probate, Homestead and Next Steps

Selling an inherited home in Palm Springs means learning a few Florida rules fast. First, a quick note on location: this guide covers the Village of Palm Springs in central Palm Beach County, just west of Lake Worth Beach, not the desert city in California. The village has many older single-family homes and condos, and they draw first-time buyers and investors alike.

Below, you will find who can sign the deed, how probate works in this county, how homestead law can change the plan, and how to prepare and price a dated property for the buyers who shop here.

Key takeaways

• Palm Springs is in Palm Beach County, so probate runs through the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and the county clerk.
• A home in a revocable trust can often sell without probate. A home in one person's name usually needs a court case first.
• Smaller estates may qualify for summary administration when the probate estate, minus exempt property, is $150,000 or less.
• Older condo buildings of three or more stories face milestone inspections and reserve studies, and buyers will ask about them.
• Heirs usually get a stepped-up tax basis equal to the value on the date of death.

First steps for an inherited home in Palm Springs

You do not need to list the house this week. Even so, a few early steps protect its value while the family gets organized.

• Change the locks or collect keys, and stop mail from piling up at the door.
• Call the insurance company. Coverage on a vacant home is often limited, so ask what the carrier needs.
• Keep the power, water and AC on to prevent mold.
• Find the will, any trust papers, the deed and recent tax and HOA bills.
• If the property is a condo, let the association know about the death and ask how it handles estate sales.

Also, Florida law gives anyone holding the original will 10 days after learning of the death to deposit it with the clerk of court in the county where the estate will be handled.

Who can sell the property?

Only the legal owner, or someone with legal authority, can sign the deed. After a death, that depends on how title was held, so start with a copy of the recorded deed.

A home in a revocable trust

The successor trustee named in the trust can usually sell without probate. The title company will want the trust and a death certificate. In addition, the trustee must treat all beneficiaries fairly and keep them informed.

A home held with survivorship

Spouses who owned the home as tenants by the entirety pass it straight to the survivor. A joint tenancy with right of survivorship works much the same way. Usually, the survivor records a death certificate and some paperwork before selling.

A home in the deceased owner's name only

In this case, someone usually must open probate. The court appoints a personal representative, Florida's term for an executor. If the will gives that person the power to sell, a separate court order may not be needed. Otherwise, the sale needs court approval.

Probate for an inherited home in Palm Springs

Probate proves the will, pays debts and moves property to the heirs. For Palm Springs, the case belongs to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and filings go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The Palm Beach County Clerk keeps the records.

Florida has two main types. Formal administration is the full process. Summary administration is shorter, and it can apply when the estate subject to probate, minus exempt property, is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person died more than 2 years ago. Because some village condos list at modest prices, a small estate here may qualify. Ask a probate attorney to run the numbers, since debts and other assets count too.

In formal administration, creditors get at least 3 months after the notice to creditors first runs to file claims. That is why the Florida Bar says a simple estate takes about five or six months. Also, Florida's probate rules require a personal representative to have a Florida lawyer unless that person is the only one with an interest in the estate.

For more on how agents fit into this process, see our page on probate and inherited property.

Florida homestead rules

If the home was the owner's primary residence, Florida's homestead rules come into play. They protect a surviving spouse and minor children, and they can override a will.

Under section 732.4015 of the Florida Statutes, an owner who leaves a spouse or a minor child cannot freely leave the homestead to others by will, except to the spouse when there is no minor child. If the home did not pass by a valid will, section 732.401 gives the spouse a life estate and the children the remainder. The spouse may instead elect a one-half share as a tenant in common within 6 months after the death.

In addition, the owner's homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap end with the change in ownership. The home will then be taxed at full market value on a later roll, unless a new owner who qualifies applies for homestead. Investors who keep the home as a rental should budget for that higher bill.

Older condos and what buyers will ask

Much of the village's housing is older, and that shapes an estate sale. If the inherited property is a condo, gather the association's documents early. Buyers and their lenders will ask for the budget, reserves, insurance and any special assessments.

Florida law also requires milestone inspections for condo and co-op buildings of three or more habitable stories once they reach 30 years of age. Those same buildings need structural integrity reserve studies under section 718.112 of the Florida Statutes. Some low-rise buildings fall outside these rules, so confirm what applies to your building rather than guessing.

For a single-family home, think about the big systems. The roof's age, the electrical panel and the plumbing often decide whether buyers can get insurance and a loan. If you know the roof is old, say so up front and price for it.

Cleanout and repairs

Clearing out a lifetime of belongings takes time. Work in stages so that decisions are not rushed.

1. Pull out papers first, like bank records, tax returns, titles and insurance policies.
2. Let family members pick keepsakes, and write down who took what.
3. Have anything of real value appraised before it is sold.
4. Then use an estate sale company, donations and a junk removal crew for the rest.

After the cleanout, decide on repairs. Many heirs sell as is to save time. Others paint, replace worn flooring and fix small items so the home appeals to first-time buyers using financing. Keep receipts for every cost, because the estate often pays them.

Pricing an inherited home in Palm Springs

The village is one of the more affordable markets in the county. According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, the Palm Springs median list price is $157,900, with a median of $189 per square foot across 179 active residential listings. Those figures mix condos and houses, and the low median reflects how many condos are listed. A single-family home will usually price well above it.

The same data shows that active listings have been on the market for an average of 119 days. In addition, the village had 139 active rentals with a median asking rent of $2,100. That rent figure matters if an heir is weighing whether to keep the home as a rental instead of selling.

For countywide sales, Miami Realtors reported an August 2026 condo and townhouse median sale price of $300,000, with 69 median days to contract. Single-family homes sold for a median of $650,000. Those are county numbers, so ask for a comparative market analysis based on nearby sales of homes in similar condition. You can begin with a free home value estimate.

Sell, rent or hold an inherited home in Palm Springs?

Some families keep an inherited home as a rental. That can work, but it means landlord duties, full-value property taxes and insurance costs. It also requires every co-owner to agree on decisions.

Selling is often simpler when several heirs share the home. A sale turns the property into cash that the estate can divide. Before you choose, compare the net from a sale with the expected rent after costs.

Taxes after selling

Under IRS rules, your basis in an inherited home is generally its fair market value on the date of death. If an estate tax return was filed, that value usually sets the basis. So a sale soon after the death at a similar price may produce little or no taxable gain. Get a date-of-death appraisal, and ask a CPA how the rules apply to your family.

Frequently asked questions

Is this guide about Palm Springs, California?

No. It covers the Village of Palm Springs in Palm Beach County, Florida. California has different probate and property laws.

Can a small estate skip full probate?

Possibly. Summary administration can apply when the probate estate, minus exempt property, is $150,000 or less, or when the death was more than 2 years ago. An attorney can confirm whether you qualify.

Can we sell an inherited home in Palm Springs to an investor?

Yes. Investors are active in the village, and an as-is sale to one can be quick. Still, compare that offer with what the open market might pay before you sign.

Do we owe tax when we sell an inherited home in Palm Springs?

Only on gain above your basis, which is usually the value on the date of death. A tax professional can review your numbers.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, s. 732.401 descent of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 732.4015 devise of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 735.201 summary administration
• Florida Statutes, s. 733.702 creditor claims
• Florida Statutes, s. 553.899 milestone inspections
• Florida Statutes, s. 718.112 condominium bylaws and reserves
• The Florida Bar, Probate in Florida
• Palm Beach County Clerk, probate of estates
• IRS, Publication 551: Basis of Assets
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Probate and homestead outcomes depend on your situation, so talk with a Florida probate attorney and a tax professional before you act.

Handling a family home in Palm Springs? Book a no-obligation listing consultation with a Palm Springs specialist. We can help you compare an as-is sale with a light refresh and plan around probate. Reach our team. If an heir is ready to buy a first home nearby, our agents can help with that search too.