Relocating and Need to Sell Your Lauderhill Home Quickly
July 11, 2023
Selling a home quickly requires some strategic planning and execution. Here are nine steps you can take to help you…
When a Loved One Passes and Leaves Behind Property
Losing a family member is never easy, and dealing with the legal process of probate on top of grief can feel overwhelming. If you’ve inherited a home in Florida or been named as a personal representative of an estate, you may be wondering how to handle the property — especially if it needs repairs, has unpaid taxes, or is sitting vacant. The good news is that you have options, and selling the home for cash may be the simplest path forward.
Florida’s probate process has specific rules about how and when real estate can be sold. Understanding these rules can save you time, stress, and money. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about selling a probate home in Florida — from the legal steps to the fastest way to close.
What Is Probate and How Does It Affect Real Estate in Florida?
Probate is the legal process that happens after someone passes away. A Florida court oversees the distribution of the deceased person’s assets, including any real estate they owned. If the home was solely in the deceased’s name and not held in a trust, it almost always must go through probate before it can be sold or transferred.
Florida has two types of probate: formal administration (for estates valued over $75,000) and summary administration (for smaller estates or when the person passed more than two years ago). The type of probate affects the timeline and how quickly you can sell the probate property. Formal administration can take anywhere from six months to over a year, while summary administration is typically much faster.
During formal probate, the court appoints a personal representative — sometimes called an executor — who is authorized to manage the estate’s affairs, including selling real estate. You’ll need court approval to sell the property in most cases, though certain wills grant the personal representative independent authority to sell without additional court permission. For more details on the legal process, the Florida Courts probate resource page is a helpful reference.
Common Challenges of Selling a Probate Home
Probate properties often come with complications that make a traditional sale difficult. The home may have been vacant for months, leading to maintenance issues, overgrown landscaping, or even vandalism. Many probate homes need significant repairs — a new roof, updated plumbing, or mold remediation — that the estate simply can’t afford.
There may also be outstanding liens or unpaid property taxes on the home. Multiple heirs may disagree about what to do with the property. And if you live out of state, managing the sale from a distance adds another layer of complexity. All of these factors can make listing on the MLS a long and expensive process.
Traditional buyers often shy away from probate properties because of the legal uncertainty and the condition of the home. That means longer days on market, price reductions, and carrying costs — mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes, and utilities — that eat into the estate’s value month after month.
Why Cash Home Buyers Are a Popular Choice for Probate Sales
More and more Florida families are turning to cash home buyers like Homeinc to sell probate properties quickly. Here’s why a cash sale makes sense in a probate situation:
No repairs needed. Cash buyers purchase homes as-is, which means the estate doesn’t need to spend money fixing up the property. Whether the home has a damaged roof, outdated systems, or cosmetic issues, a cash buyer will make an offer based on the current condition.
Fast closing timeline. While a traditional sale can take 60–90 days after finding a buyer, a cash sale with Homeinc can close in as little as 7–14 days once probate court approval is obtained. This helps the estate settle faster and puts money in the heirs’ hands sooner.
No commissions or hidden fees. When you sell to Homeinc, you pay zero realtor commissions and Homeinc covers the closing costs. On a $250,000 home, that could save the estate $15,000 or more compared to listing with a real estate agent.
Steps to Sell a Probate Home in Florida
Selling a home in probate doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s the general process:
Step 1: Open probate and get appointed as personal representative. File the will (if there is one) with the circuit court in the county where the deceased lived. The court will issue Letters of Administration, which give you the legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
Step 2: Get a property valuation. You’ll need to know the home’s fair market value. A cash buyer like Homeinc can provide a no-obligation offer quickly, which can serve as a reference point.
Step 3: Notify creditors and heirs. Florida law requires you to notify known creditors and publish a notice to unknown creditors. Heirs must also be kept informed about estate activities, including any planned property sale.
Step 4: Get court approval (if required). Depending on the terms of the will and the type of probate, you may need to petition the court for permission to sell. Your probate attorney can guide you through this step.
Step 5: Accept an offer and close. Once you have court approval, you can accept a cash offer and close on your timeline. Homeinc handles the paperwork and works with your probate attorney to make the process as smooth as possible.
What About Inherited Properties Outside of Probate?
Not all inherited properties need to go through probate. If the home was held in a living trust, owned as joint tenants with right of survivorship, or had a transfer-on-death deed, it may pass directly to the beneficiary without probate court involvement. In these cases, selling your inherited property can be even faster.
If you’re not sure whether the property needs probate, consulting with a Florida probate attorney is a smart first step. Either way, Homeinc can work with you regardless of where you are in the process — whether probate is just starting, already underway, or not required at all.
Homeinc Makes Selling a Probate Home Simple
At Homeinc, we understand that dealing with probate is stressful enough without the added burden of trying to sell a house the traditional way. That’s why we’ve built a simple 3-step process that takes the pressure off: you tell us about the property, we make a fair cash offer, and you choose your closing date. No showings, no repairs, no commissions.
We’ve helped hundreds of Florida families sell probate and inherited properties quickly and with dignity. If you’re ready to move forward, give us a call or request your free, no-obligation cash offer today. We’re here to help you through every step.