What Happens to a House in Probate?

If you’ve never heard of probate before, you might find yourself wondering what on earth it is and what it means for your inheritance. After all, that’s not something they typically mention in the movies. You just have a family meeting with a lawyer, the will is read, and at least one person gets mad and storms out. Probate is a real thing though, and it does have an impact on what happens to a house that’s included in a will.

Handled by the Executor

The first thing you need to know about houses in probate is that they are generally handled by the executor of the estate until the property of the deceased is distributed based on what is written in the will. Property taxes and other bills are the responsibility of the executor. Depending on what the will says specifically about how the house is handled, they may sell the house in order to make sure any and all outstanding debts are settled.

Liquidated

When a house in probate is to be sold, there are three options when it comes to selling. The executor can try to sell the house themselves, they can hire a realtor to handle the marketing and sale of the house, or they can sell it to a cash buyer. Out of all three options, selling the house to a cash buyer is almost always going to be the fastest, simplest option. Once the house has been sold, the money can then go towards debts, with the remainder being distributed as dictated by the will.

Inherited

The other thing that can happen to a house in probate is that it will be inherited by a beneficiary. In some cases, that can be an awesome inheritance. In other cases, it may not be quite so welcome. If you end up saddled with an inherited property that you don’t want or can’t keep for any reason, the best solution is often to get it sold as fast as possible. Again, selling to a cash buyer is the most reliable way to quickly sell a house.

Probate is the process by which a will is authenticated and the executor of the estate is approved. It sounds simple, but it can be a lengthy, complicated process, especially when a house is involved. The more you know about what to expect, the better prepared you’ll be for the outcome.

Selling your home to Minnesota Home Guys could help you resolve the probate process more quickly. Click here to learn more about how the process works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Minnesota Home Guys purchases land as well as houses. Whether it’s a vacant lot, acreage, or a parcel you inherited, we’re happy to take a look and make you an offer. Just submit the property details and we’ll get back to you.

Yes, absolutely. While we’re based in the Twin Cities, we buy houses all across Minnesota. Whether your property is in the suburbs, rural areas, or small towns, we’re interested. Submit your address and we’ll let you know how we can help.

We consider several factors when making an offer, including your home’s condition, recent comparable sales in the area, market trends, and any necessary repairs. Our goal is to provide you with a fair and competitive offer based on real market data.

No! We buy houses in any condition, whether they need minor updates or major repairs. You won’t have to spend a dime on renovations, inspections, or cleaning—we handle everything.

If your home is in foreclosure, we may still be able to buy it and help you avoid a full foreclosure process. The sooner you reach out, the more options we have to help. Contact us today to discuss your situation.

No, you will not be “listed” and waiting for a buyer – we are direct home buyers, not an agent offering to list your home and hope it sells. That means you don’t have to worry about showings, commissions, or waiting for the right buyer. We buy homes with cash, allowing for a fast and hassle-free closing.

Yes! If you’re a landlord with problem tenants or an unwanted rental property, we can make you a fair cash offer. You don’t have to wait for a lease to end—we buy properties with tenants still in place. “Tired landlord” is one of the most common situations we see.

We buy single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, multi-family properties, and even vacant land. If you’re unsure whether your property qualifies, just reach out to us!

Closing speed is based on your timeline. If you want to close fast, we can do that! If you need time, we can do that too!

Here’s how it works: Once you accept and sign our offer, we order the abstract update and a title opinion. If any title defects are found, we work with you to resolve them. Once the title is cleared, we set a closing date and begin preparing the legal closing documents. Closing date is typically 2-4 weeks from the time the offer is signed, but if you are in a hurry please call (952) 222-7138 and we can expedite the process!

When you choose to sell your property to us, we will cover the abstract update, title opinion, transfer tax, as well as closing costs. You will only be responsible to pay property tax up to the date of sale and any liens.

We guarantee closing on every offer we make. This is easily done because our team gets to know the seller, researches the property, understands current market trends, and has cash ready to close.

Yes! If your home is listed with a real estate agent, you’re still welcome to submit it to us for a cash offer. Keep in mind that if it’s under contract or you have listing obligations, you may need to coordinate with your agent—but we’re happy to work with listed properties.

Nope! One of the benefits of selling to Minnesota Home Guys is that you don’t need to lift a finger. You can leave behind furniture, trash, old appliances—whatever you don’t want to deal with. We’ll take care of everything after closing. Just take what you want and leave the rest.

Our cash offer is guaranteed as long as everything we discussed about your property checks out. The only time the offer would change is if we discover something unexpected during the title process—like a hidden lien, unpaid property taxes, or a contractor bill that wasn’t disclosed. We’re always upfront and transparent, and if something like this does come up, we’ll talk it through with you.