Inherited a Home?
Probate & Inherited Property
Selling a home you inherited is part paperwork, part emotion, and rarely simple. Pure Equity guides families and personal representatives through selling probate and inherited property in Florida, with patience and none of the pressure.
Get a Free Home Valuation →Sell As-Is
No repairs or cleanout required
Cash Option
Fast cash offers or full-market listing
Multiple Heirs
We help families reach one clear plan
Probate & Inherited Property in Florida
Selling an inherited home in Florida
Inheriting a home comes with a to-do list nobody wants during a hard time. There may be a probate case to navigate, a property that needs clearing out, taxes and upkeep piling up, and sometimes several family members who each have a say. On top of that, the house may need work you have no interest in doing. It is a lot, and most people have never done it before.
Pure Equity helps Florida families and personal representatives through the whole process at their own pace. We explain how probate affects a sale, connect you with a probate attorney when you need one, and give you honest options, from a fast as-is cash sale to a full-market listing that nets more. We are not attorneys or tax advisors, so we bring in the right professionals, but we make sure you understand your choices before you decide.
How probate affects selling the home
In Florida, if the home was solely in the deceased owner's name, it usually has to pass through probate before it can be sold, a court-supervised process that transfers legal authority to a personal representative. Depending on the estate, that can be a faster summary administration or a longer formal administration. The timeline affects when you can list and close. We coordinate with your probate attorney so the sale lines up with the court process and nothing stalls at the closing table.
Selling as-is, without repairs
Inherited homes are often dated, full of belongings, or in need of real work, and heirs frequently have neither the time nor the money to fix them up. You do not have to. We can sell the property exactly as it sits, contents and all, so you are not sinking cash into a house you are letting go. For buyers, an honest as-is sale with clear expectations is common in this segment, and we price and market it to attract the right ones.
Cash offer or open-market listing
You generally have two good paths. A cash sale is fast and certain, with no showings, no repairs, and a quick close, which suits families who value speed and simplicity. Listing on the open market usually nets more money and reaches more buyers, at the cost of a bit more time. Neither is automatically right. We show you the real numbers for both so you can weigh speed against price and choose what fits your family.
Multiple heirs and the tax picture
When several family members inherit together, the sale only moves forward when everyone is aligned, and that is where deals often stall. We are used to working with multiple heirs, keeping communication clear and neutral so the group can reach one plan. On taxes, inherited property typically receives a stepped-up basis to its value at the date of death, which can significantly reduce capital gains when you sell. That can be a real advantage, but it is a question for your tax professional, and we will make sure it is on your radar.
Summary versus formal administration
Florida has more than one probate path and which one applies changes the timeline considerably. Formal administration is the fuller process, involving a personal representative appointed by the court who administers the estate. Summary administration is an abbreviated route available in defined circumstances, and where it applies it is markedly faster. There are also situations involving very small estates handled differently again. Which path fits depends on facts including the size of the estate and how long ago the death occurred, and it is a question for a Florida probate attorney rather than something to determine from a website. Ask early, because it determines when you can realistically sell and therefore how you plan everything else.
The mortgage does not pause, and it does not disappear
If there is a mortgage on the property it continues to accrue, and payments missed during probate cause exactly the problems missed payments always cause. Federal law protects certain relatives who inherit an occupied home from having a due-on-sale clause enforced against them, so inheriting the property does not automatically mean the loan is called. What it does not do is pay the loan. Contact the servicer early, tell them what has happened, and ask what documentation they need to speak with you, because a servicer that does not know the borrower has died will simply proceed as normal. Property taxes and insurance also continue, and a lapse in insurance on a vacant inherited house is a serious exposure.
Who actually has authority to sign
This is the practical question that stops more inherited property sales than any other, and it is worth answering before a property is marketed. Being an heir does not by itself give you authority to sell. In a formal administration, authority generally comes from the court appointing a personal representative, who is issued documentation confirming it, and a title company will want to see that before closing. Where there are several heirs, whether they all need to sign depends on how title passed and which probate route applies. Sort this out at the start. A contract signed by someone without authority to convey is a problem discovered at the closing table, which is the most expensive place to discover anything.
Related Resources
Primary sources: Florida Statutes Chapter 733, probate administration. Program rules and eligibility change, so confirm current requirements directly.
No Pressure
Sell an Inherited Home
Tell us about the property and your situation. We will explain your options and what the home is worth, on your timeline.
Questions
Probate & inherited property: frequently asked questions
Do I have to go through probate to sell an inherited house in Florida?
Usually, if the home was owned solely in the deceased person's name, it must pass through probate before it can be sold, so that a personal representative has legal authority to transfer it. Some estates qualify for a faster summary administration, others require formal administration. If the property was held in a trust or with rights of survivorship, probate may not be needed. A probate attorney confirms the path, and we coordinate the sale around it.
Can I sell the home without fixing it up?
Yes. We regularly sell inherited homes as-is, including ones that are dated or still full of belongings. You do not have to spend money on repairs or a cleanout you did not sign up for. We price and market the property honestly for its condition, and for many buyers, especially investors, an as-is home with clear expectations is exactly what they are looking for.
Should I take a cash offer or list on the market?
It depends on what your family values most. A cash sale is fast and certain, with no showings or repairs, which is ideal when speed and simplicity matter. Listing on the open market usually brings a higher price and more buyers, at the cost of more time. We lay out the actual numbers for both so you can make a clear-eyed choice rather than guessing.
What happens when several heirs inherit the property together?
The sale can only proceed when the co-owners agree, so alignment among heirs is the real hurdle. We are experienced at working with multiple family members, keeping the process neutral and the communication clear so everyone understands the options and can reach one decision. When needed, the probate attorney handles the legal mechanics of authority and signatures.
Will I owe a lot of taxes if I sell an inherited home?
Often less than people fear. Inherited property generally receives a stepped-up basis, meaning its cost basis resets to the market value at the date of death. If you sell near that value, the taxable gain can be small. This is a genuine advantage, but the specifics depend on your situation, so it is a question for a tax professional. We are happy to make sure it is part of your planning conversation.
What is the difference between summary and formal administration in Florida?
Formal administration is the fuller probate process with a court appointed personal representative administering the estate. Summary administration is an abbreviated route available in defined circumstances and is considerably faster where it applies. Which one fits depends on facts including the size of the estate and how long ago the death occurred. A Florida probate attorney can tell you quickly, and the answer determines when you can realistically sell.
Do I have to keep paying the mortgage on an inherited house?
The loan continues regardless of the probate process, so yes, it needs to be paid or addressed. Federal law protects certain relatives inheriting an occupied home from having the due-on-sale clause enforced, so inheriting does not usually mean the loan is called, but nothing about that pays it. Contact the servicer early and ask what they need in order to speak with you, and keep the property insured, because a vacant uninsured house is a serious exposure.
Keep Reading
More from Pure Equity
- Property management
- Raw land
- Recently sold homes
- Relocation
- Reviewing offers
- Rural land
- Schools
- Sell a luxury home in South Florida
- Sell my house fast florida
- Sell or refinance