Selling any house can be complex. When you’re selling a house that someone left to you when they passed, there are even more hoops to jump through.
That doesn’t mean you can’t sell your house fast, though. Knowing the documents needed to sell an inherited house before you reach out to a Realtor or a cash buyer can help save weeks of back-and-forth with a title company.
What You Need To Sell an Inherited House
Nearly every step of selling an inherited property starts with the death certificate. Title companies, lenders, and county offices will all ask for a certified copy, so order a few extras early.
From there, the documents needed to sell an inherited house are those that confirm that ownership has transferred to you and you can legally sign off on the sale. If the estate has to go through probate because there isn’t a trust, joint tenancy, or other beneficiary designation, you’ll need the probate documents showing the court appointed you (or someone) as executor or administrator.
If there isn’t a trust or someone passes without a will, an affidavit of heirship may stand in for the full probate process and will or trust documents in specific cases. It’s a sworn statement identifying rightful heirs, and it can speed things along when the estate is straightforward.
Sorting the Inherited Property Title
Once legal ownership of the property is settled, the inherited title may need to move out of the deceased owner’s name and into the estate’s or heir’s name before closing the sale.
Transferring the title requires recording a new deed with the county. Skipping this step is a common reason inherited home sales stall right before closing. Working with a team who knows how selling a house works can prevent hiccups like these.
Managing the Mortgage Paperwork
An outstanding mortgage adds another layer of documents. Gather the most recent mortgage statement and request a current payoff amount from the lender. The payoff statement shows what must be paid at closing to satisfy the loan. If there’s a HELOC or other liens, they’ll also need to be repaid at closing.
Gathering the Tax Documents
Tax documents can affect the sale, so don’t wait until closing for the title company to find issues. The home’s value at the time it was inherited can be important for determining the tax basis and any potential capital gain when the property is sold.
Pennsylvania also has inheritance tax rules, so the title company may require documentation showing that the estate’s tax obligations have been addressed.
What Else Might Be Needed?
Depending on the property, additional documents may be needed to sell an inherited house. These could include the homeowners insurance policy, inspection reports, HOA paperwork, and permits. Not every inherited home will require every document, but getting the paperwork organized early can make selling a house in probate or similar situations less stressful.
If making sense of all of this feels overwhelming, Homerun Home Solutions LLC can help make the process easier. Call (484) 246-4894 to discuss your property and learn about your options for selling.
