If you inherited a house, you can sell it as it is.
You don’t have to clear it out or fix it first. Here’s who can sign the sale and what happens to a mortgage on the house. A person on our team reads every request and gets back to you.
What’s going on with the house?
Start here. You don’t need to give your address.
Where is the house?
Just the ZIP code for now, so we can check that we buy in your area.
We buy houses in your area.
We don’t buy houses in that area yet. You can still call us at 215-440-6622 with any questions.
How should we reach you?
We use it only to talk about your house. We never sell or share it.
We use it only to talk about your house. We never sell or share it.
We couldn’t send this. Please call us at 215-440-6622 or email info [at] ajarhouses.com.
Thanks.
Someone from our team will call you, usually within a few hours. If now is a bad moment, just tell them when to call back.
You haven’t agreed to anything, and you can stop at any point.
If you have questions before then, call 215-440-6622 or email info [at] ajarhouses.com.
Who can sell an inherited house
It depends on how the house was owned and whether there’s a will. Usually a court names someone to settle the estate: the executor, if there’s a will, or an administrator, if there isn’t. In Massachusetts this person is called the personal representative. They sign the sale for the estate.
In some states the court also has to approve the sale, unless the will allows it. An estate attorney can tell you what applies to your case.
Where estates are handled
- New YorkSurrogate’s Court
- PennsylvaniaRegister of Wills
- New JerseySurrogate’s Court
- ConnecticutProbate Court
- MassachusettsProbate and Family Court
Usually it’s the office for the county or district where the person lived.
Sources: New York State Constitution, Article VI, Section 12; Juniata County Register of Wills; Atlantic County Surrogate; Connecticut Probate Court User Guide, “Administration of Decedents’ Estates”; Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. Checked October 13, 2026.
If there’s still a mortgage
The loan doesn’t go away when the owner dies, and payments are still due.
Federal law generally doesn’t let the lender demand the full balance just because the house passed to a relative after the owner’s death. This covers houses with one to four units.
Once the company that handles the loan confirms you as a successor, federal rules treat you as a borrower, so you can ask it for information about the loan.
If you sell, the mortgage is paid off at closing with money from the sale.
Sources: Garn-St Germain Act, 12 U.S.C. 1701j-3(d); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Regulation X (12 CFR 1024.30). Checked October 13, 2026.
Compare your options before you decide
Selling to us is one of them.
How a sale to us works
Take what you want to keep, and leave the rest to us, furniture included.
You don’t need to be nearby to start. You can send photos from your phone, and the offer and documents arrive by text or email.
At closing, the title company or closing attorney pays off any mortgage or other debt recorded on the house from the sale. The rest goes to the seller, which is usually the estate.
What to have ready when we talk
- The name of the person settling the estate
- Any papers from the court, if the estate is open
- Whether there’s still a mortgage on the house
- The names of the other heirs, if there are any
Our promises to you
- We never ask you for a fee or a deposit.
- Take the time you need, and show the offer to the other heirs or a lawyer.
- The deed stays in the owner’s name until closing.
- We tell you what comes next before it happens.
Questions
Can I sell the house before probate is finished?
Often, yes, once the person settling the estate has the authority to sell. The rules depend on the state and on the will, so an estate attorney can tell you what applies.
Do all the heirs need to sign?
Everyone who owns a share of the house, or has to sign for the estate, signs the sale. If the heirs don’t agree on selling, an estate attorney can explain the options.
What happens to the furniture and everything inside?
Take what you want to keep, and leave the rest to us.
Do I have to travel to the house?
Not to start. You can send photos from your phone, and the offer and documents arrive by text or email. When we talk, we’ll tell you what the closing requires.
Will I owe taxes when I sell?
It depends on your situation, and we don’t give tax advice. A tax professional can tell you what applies to you.
Can I change my mind?
Yes, until you sign. After you sign, the contract explains if and how you can cancel.
Do you share my information?
No. We use it only to talk about your house, and we never sell or share it. When a sale closes, the new deed is recorded with the county, as it is for every home sale.
If your question isn’t here, call 215-440-6622 or email info [at] ajarhouses.com.
Tell us about your house when you’re ready.
It takes two short questions, and you don’t need your address to start.
We buy houses as they are in smaller cities across New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
You can also write to us at info [at] ajarhouses.com.