How does the house buying process work?

Our process is simple: 1) Contact us and share basic details about your property. 2) We schedule a visit and present a fair cash offer within 24 hours. 3) You choose your closing date and get paid. There is no obligation to accept.

Will you offer market value for my house?

Our cash offers are based on the anticipated market value post-renovation, adjusted for renovation costs and time. While our offers may be at a discount, you save on realtor commissions, closing costs, repairs, and months of waiting.

Do I need to make repairs before selling?

No. We buy your house in its current condition. No repairs, no cleaning, no renovations needed. We handle everything after purchase.

How quickly can you close?

We can close in as little as 7 to 14 days because we buy with cash and do not rely on bank financing. You choose the closing date that works best for you.

Can I sell an inherited or probate house?

Yes. We regularly purchase inherited and probate properties in the Bay Area. We work with attorneys and handle the paperwork so you can focus on what matters.

Can you help if I am facing foreclosure?

Yes. A fast cash sale can stop foreclosure, protect your credit, and help you avoid costly deficiency judgments. Contact us immediately if you have a bank deadline approaching.

Inherited a House in the Bay Area?

Inherited a House in the Bay Area? Here’s What to Do Next

Inheriting a home in the Bay Area comes with a unique mix of emotions and financial considerations. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one while simultaneously facing decisions about a property worth $700,000 to $2 million or more. The financial stakes are high, and the decisions you make now will have lasting tax and financial implications.

Whether you’ve inherited a home in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, or elsewhere in the Bay Area, here’s a practical guide to help you navigate your options.

First Steps After Inheriting a Bay Area Home

Secure the property. Make sure the home is locked, the utilities are functioning (or properly shut off), and the insurance is current. An unoccupied home is vulnerable to vandalism, water damage, and other problems. Contact the existing homeowner’s insurance company to ensure coverage continues — many policies have limited coverage for vacant properties.

Understand the probate process. In California, if the home was held in a living trust, it can transfer to you without going through probate. If there was no trust and the estate exceeds $184,500 in value (which nearly all Bay Area homes do), the property will need to go through probate court. Probate in California typically takes 9-18 months and involves court oversight, which can delay your ability to sell.

Get a current property valuation. You need to know what the home is worth for both tax purposes and decision-making. The home’s fair market value on the date of death becomes your “stepped-up basis” for capital gains tax purposes — this is a crucial number.

Understanding the Stepped-Up Tax Basis

One of the most significant financial benefits of inheriting property is the stepped-up cost basis. Here’s what this means in practice:

If your parent bought a Bay Area home in 1985 for $150,000 and it’s now worth $1.2 million, the $1.05 million in appreciation is essentially tax-free to you. Your cost basis “steps up” to the fair market value on the date of death ($1.2 million). If you sell relatively soon at that price, you’ll owe little to no capital gains tax.

This is an enormous tax advantage — and it’s one reason many financial advisors recommend selling inherited property relatively quickly, before significant additional appreciation occurs.

Proposition 19 and Property Taxes

California’s Proposition 19 (effective February 2021) significantly changed the property tax rules for inherited homes. Under the old rules (Proposition 13/58), children could inherit their parents’ low property tax base regardless of how they used the property. Under Prop 19, the parent’s low tax base only transfers if the child uses the home as their primary residence and the home’s current value doesn’t exceed the assessed value by more than $1 million.

For many Bay Area inherited homes, this means a massive property tax increase if you keep the home as a rental or second home. A property with a Prop 13 tax base of $3,000-$5,000 per year could see taxes jump to $12,000-$20,000 or more based on current market values. This tax increase should be a major factor in your decision about keeping or selling the property.

Your Three Main Options

Option 1: Keep the home. If you plan to live in the home as your primary residence, you may be able to preserve the Prop 13 tax base (with limitations under Prop 19). Keeping the home also makes sense if you want to rent it out — though be aware of the higher property taxes and Bay Area landlord-tenant regulations.

Option 2: Sell on the open market. If the home is in good condition, listing with a real estate agent can maximize your sale price. However, inherited homes often need work — the previous owner may have deferred maintenance due to age, illness, or limited finances. Plan for 3-6 months from listing to closing, and factor in the costs of repairs, staging, agent commissions (5-6%), and carrying costs (mortgage if any, property taxes, insurance, maintenance).

Option 3: Sell to a cash buyer. This is often the ideal option for inherited properties because cash buyers purchase homes as-is — no need to clean out decades of belongings, make repairs, or update an outdated property. The process is fast (7-14 days) and simple. You avoid agent commissions and repair costs. And if the home is in probate, experienced cash buyers know how to navigate probate sales.

Dealing with Multiple Heirs

Inherited homes frequently have multiple heirs — siblings who each own a percentage. This can create conflict when heirs disagree about whether to sell or keep the property, what price to accept, how to divide maintenance costs, and how to handle one heir living in the property while others want to sell.

A cash sale can be the simplest resolution when multiple heirs are involved. The process is straightforward, the timeline is short, and everyone receives their share of the proceeds quickly and cleanly. No months of disagreements about repair priorities, listing prices, or agent selection.

What If There’s a Mortgage on the Property?

If the deceased had a mortgage, the loan doesn’t automatically transfer to you — but it also doesn’t disappear. Under federal law, heirs can assume the existing mortgage without triggering the due-on-sale clause. You can also refinance into your own name or pay off the mortgage through a sale.

If the mortgage payments are unaffordable, act quickly. Falling behind on an inherited mortgage starts the same foreclosure process as any other delinquency.

We Specialize in Inherited Properties

At We Buy in Bay Area, we have extensive experience with inherited home sales throughout the Bay Area. We understand the emotional weight of selling a family home, and we handle every transaction with respect and professionalism. We work with probate attorneys, coordinate with multiple heirs, and close on whatever timeline works for the estate.

Call us at 510-403-1626 for a free consultation about your inherited property. We’ll help you understand your options and provide a fair cash offer if you decide to sell.

Inherited a House in the Bay Area? Your Complete Guide to What Comes Next