Updated October 2026 · By the Infinite Cash Home Buyers team
Quick answer
If you inherited a house in Fresno, you can usually sell it as-is, often without a court hearing, and without clearing it out first. Since Prop 19 took effect in 2021, heirs only keep a parent’s low property tax base if they move in as their main home within a year, so most inherited Fresno homes get reassessed and sold. We buy inherited houses with the belongings inside, our crew handles the clean-out, and we can close in as little as 5 days once the executor has authority to sell.
How Prop 19 changed inherited houses in California
Before 2021, a child could inherit a parent’s house and keep the parent’s assessed value for property taxes, even as a rental. Prop 19 narrowed that. Now the low tax base carries over only if the house was the parent’s home and the child makes it their own primary residence within a year. Even then, the exclusion is capped, so a house that’s worth much more than its old assessed value can still be partly reassessed.
For most families, that means keeping the house as a rental or a second home comes with a much higher tax bill than before. That’s a big reason inherited houses in Fresno get sold. If you’re weighing whether to move in, talk to a tax professional about the numbers for your house.
Can I sell a house that’s still in probate?
Often, yes. In California, many executors and administrators are granted full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. With full authority, the house can usually be sold without a court confirmation hearing. The personal representative sends heirs a Notice of Proposed Action and waits the required period, usually 15 days, before closing. With limited authority, or no authority yet, the sale may need court confirmation, which adds time.
If there’s a living trust instead of a will, the successor trustee can usually sell without probate at all.
Your probate attorney can confirm which applies to your case. Once the right person has authority to sign, we can work around the estate’s timeline.
Should I sell my parents’ house after they pass?
It depends on the family. Sell if no one plans to live there, the house needs work nobody has the time or money to do, or the estate needs to be settled and split between heirs. Keep it if someone will move in within a year and wants to keep the tax base, or if the family wants to hold it and can cover the higher taxes and upkeep.
If you’re selling, the house usually needs work. Many Fresno homes we see in estates have original kitchens, old HVAC, a roof near the end of its life, and decades of belongings. Listing means clearing it out, fixing what a buyer’s lender will require, and showing it, often while the house sits vacant.
What we handle so the family doesn’t have to
We’re a licensed general contractor with a complete home-buying division. We buy the house ourselves, as-is, and our own crews renovate it. Take the things that matter to the family and leave the rest. Our crew handles the clean-out, including furniture, the garage and whatever’s in the attic.
We work with the executor or trustee, the probate attorney and a local Fresno title company, and we close on the estate’s schedule.
How it works with us
- Call or text (559) 272-3893, or fill out the offer form. Tell us where the estate stands.
- Walk-through. Oscar or someone from our team sees the house in person. Family doesn’t need to be there if someone can let us in.
- Written offer with our repair numbers.
- Close at a local Fresno title company once the executor or trustee can sign: as fast as 5 days, or 15 or 30 if that fits the estate better.
FAQ
Do we have to empty the house before selling?
No. Take what you want and leave the rest. Our crew handles the clean-out.
What if the heirs live out of state?
That’s common. Most paperwork can be signed remotely, and the title company sends each heir’s share as the estate directs.
Do you buy houses with reverse mortgages?
Often, yes. The loan is paid off from the sale in escrow. Lenders usually give heirs a set amount of time to sell, so call early.
Are you a wholesaler?
No. We’re a direct buyer. We buy the house ourselves, our crews renovate it, and we never assign contracts. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Get your offer
Call or text (559) 272-3893 or request your offer online. Selling from far away? See Sell Your Fresno House Before You Go.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Talk to a California probate attorney or tax professional about your situation.
Infinite Cash Home Buyers is the home-buying division of Infinite Home Solutions LLC, a licensed and bonded California general contractor (CSLB #1126804) at 4762 W Jennifer Ave, Ste 101, Fresno, CA 93722. We’ve bought 584 properties across the Central Valley since 2022. We’re direct buyers, not wholesalers: we buy every house ourselves and our own crews renovate it, so we buy as-is, pay cash and can close in as little as 5 days. We buy houses, condos, commercial buildings and businesses from Bakersfield to Stockton.