Selling an Inherited Property in San Antonio, TX

How To Sell An Inherited Property in San Antonio

If you’ve inherited a property in San Antonio, you’re likely dealing with the Texas probate process. Here’s what makes Texas different from other states:

Texas Probate Timeline Texas has one of the more straightforward probate processes in the country, but timing varies:

– Independent Administration (with a will): 3-6 months on average

– Dependent Administration (contested or no will): 6-18 months

– Muniment of Title (simplified process for some estates): 30-60 days

– Small Estate Affidavit (estates under $75,000 with no real property issues): 30 days

Who Can Sell an Inherited House in San Antonio?

Only certain people have legal authority to sell an inherited property in Texas: The Executor (named in the will) — Once the will is admitted to probate and Letters Testamentary are issued by Bexar County Probate Court, the executor can sell property. The Administrator (appointed by the court) — If there’s no will, the court appoints an administrator who receives Letters of Administration. All Heirs Acting Together — In some cases, heirs can use an Affidavit of Heirship to establish ownership without full probate. Important: You cannot legally sell an inherited property in Texas until you have proper documentation from Bexar County Probate Court.

Can You Sell a House While It’s Still in Probate?

Yes. Texas allows executors with “independent administration” authority to sell real estate during probate without additional court approval. This is one of the fastest ways to convert an inherited property to cash. If you’re dealing with dependent administration, you’ll need court approval for each step, which adds 30-60 days to the process. We work with families selling inherited homes during probate regularly. We can close as soon as your legal authority is established — often within days of receiving your Letters Testamentary.

Texas Inheritance Taxes: What Will You Owe?

Good news: Texas has NO state inheritance tax and NO state estate tax. You may still owe: Federal Estate Tax — Only applies to estates over $12.92 million (2023 threshold). Capital Gains Tax — If you sell the property for more than its “stepped-up basis” (fair market value at the time of death). The Stepped-Up Basis Advantage: When you inherit property in Texas, your tax basis “steps up” to the property’s fair market value at the date of death. This means if you sell quickly, you’ll likely owe little or no capital gains tax.

What If the House Needs Major Repairs?

Many inherited homes haven’t been updated in decades — and that’s okay. We buy inherited properties in any condition:

Houses that need major repairs or renovation. Properties that have been neglected for years. Homes with foundation, roof, or structural issues. Hoarder situations or homes full of belongings. Properties with code violations or unpermitted work.

You don’t need to clean, repair, or even empty the house. We handle everything after closing so you can focus on settling the estate.

What If Multiple Heirs Inherit the Property?

This is one of the most common complications we see with inherited properties in San Antonio. Here’s how Texas law handles it:

If the will names a specific beneficiary for the property, that person can sell once probate is complete — no agreement from other heirs needed.

If multiple heirs inherit jointly (common when there’s no will), ALL heirs must agree to sell. If even one heir refuses, the others can petition Bexar County Probate Court for a “partition sale” — but this is expensive and time-consuming.

We regularly work with families where siblings or relatives are spread across the country. We can structure the sale to pay each heir directly at closing, making the process simple for everyone.

Heirs Can’t Agree? Here Are Your Options

Family disagreements over inherited property are more common than you’d think. If heirs can’t agree on whether to sell, here are the options under Texas law:

Buyout — One heir buys out the others’ share at fair market value.

Mediation — A neutral third party helps negotiate an agreement. Much cheaper than court.

Partition Action — If all else fails, any heir can petition the court to force a sale. The court will order the property sold and proceeds divided. This typically takes 6-12 months and costs thousands in legal fees.

The fastest, cheapest solution is usually for all heirs to agree to a cash sale and split the proceeds. We can provide a fair offer that gives everyone clarity on exactly what they'll receive.

Why Selling for Cash Makes Sense for Inherited Properties

Most inherited properties sit vacant for months while families figure out what to do. Every month means more carrying costs:

Property taxes (Bexar County bills quarterly). Insurance (required even on vacant homes). Utilities and lawn maintenance. Risk of vandalism, squatters, or code violations.

Selling to a cash buyer eliminates these headaches immediately. No waiting 3-6 months for a traditional sale. No spending money on repairs to make the house “market ready.” No coordinating showings across multiple family members’ schedules.

We can close in as little as 7 days once you have legal authority to sell — so you can settle the estate and move on.

Inherited Property Situations We’ve Helped San Antonio Families Navigate

Every inherited property comes with its own complications. Here are real situations we’ve handled for Bexar County families:

Four siblings, four different states, one house A San Antonio family inherited their mother’s home on the Southside. The four adult children lived in Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida. Nobody could agree on price, timing, or who would handle repairs. We made a cash offer, coordinated signatures remotely with all four heirs, and closed in 14 days. Each sibling received their share directly at closing.

No will, no probate, 20 years of deferred maintenance A son inherited his father’s home near Woodlawn Lake but there was no will. The house hadn’t been updated since the 1980s and needed a new roof, HVAC, and foundation work. We helped him understand the Affidavit of Heirship process, bought the property as is, and closed once the paperwork cleared. He never spent a dollar on repairs.

House in probate with back taxes owed A daughter inherited her grandmother’s home in the Medical Center area, but three years of property taxes were delinquent. She couldn’t afford to bring them current and was worried about losing the house to a tax sale. We purchased the property, paid off the back taxes at closing, and she walked away with cash instead of debt.

Hoarder situation with code violations A family inherited a home on the East Side that had been neglected for years. The city had issued code violations and the house was filled floor to ceiling with belongings. Traditional buyers wouldn’t touch it. We bought it as is, handled the entire cleanout, and resolved the code violations after closing.

Texas Inheritance Tax Rules: The Good News

If you’ve inherited property in Texas, you’re in one of the most tax-friendly states in the country. Texas has NO state inheritance tax and NO state estate tax. This means the state of Texas will not take a cut of your inheritance regardless of its value.

The only taxes you may owe are federal, and most inherited properties don’t trigger significant tax liability thanks to the “stepped-up basis” rule explained below.

Understanding the Stepped-Up Basis (This Saves You Money)

When you inherit property in Texas, something valuable happens: your tax basis “steps up” to the property’s fair market value at the date of death — not what the original owner paid for it.

Here’s an example: Your parents bought their San Antonio home for $60,000 in 1985. When they passed, the home was worth $280,000. Your tax basis is now $280,000. If you sell for $285,000, you only pay capital gains tax on $5,000 — not $225,000.

This is why selling an inherited property quickly often makes the most financial sense. The longer you hold it, the more it may appreciate, and the more capital gains tax you could owe when you eventually sell.

When Do You Actually Owe Taxes?

The only tax most San Antonio heirs pay is federal capital gains — and only on appreciation AFTER you inherit. Thanks to stepped-up basis, you’re not taxed on decades of appreciation that occurred before you inherited.

If you sell quickly at or near the stepped-up value, you may owe little to nothing. If you hold the property for years and it appreciates significantly, you’ll owe capital gains on that growth. Long-term capital gains rates (for property held over a year) range from 0% to 20% depending on your income bracket.

Federal Estate Tax (Probably Doesn’t Apply to You)

Federal estate tax only applies to estates exceeding $12.92 million (2023 threshold). Unless you’re inheriting from a multi-millionaire, this won’t affect you. The estate handles this before you inherit — it’s not your responsibility as the heir.

Texas Inheritance Tax: $0

Six states charge inheritance tax: Maryland, Nebraska, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. Texas is not one of them. You will not pay a single dollar in state inheritance tax on property you inherit in San Antonio or anywhere in Texas.

Documents You’ll Need to Sell in Texas

To sell an inherited property in San Antonio, you’ll need documentation proving your legal authority. The specific documents depend on how you inherited:

If there was a will: Letters Testamentary issued by Bexar County Probate Court, plus a certified copy of the death certificate.

If there was no will: Letters of Administration from probate court, or an Affidavit of Heirship signed by two disinterested witnesses who knew the deceased and their family.

For the closing itself: The deed, property tax records, and a title search. The title company handles most of this — we work with title companies experienced in inherited property sales who know how to navigate these transactions quickly.

Don’t have all the paperwork yet? Call us anyway. We can often help you determine exactly what you need and connect you with resources to obtain it.

Ready to Sell Your Inherited San Antonio Property?

Dealing with an inherited house on top of everything else is exhausting. The paperwork, the family dynamics, the property sitting vacant costing you money every month. It doesn’t have to drag on for a year.

Bexar Street Group has helped dozens of San Antonio families sell inherited properties since 2016. We understand Texas probate law, we work with title companies experienced in estate transactions, and we can close as soon as your legal authority is established.

Here’s what to do next:

Call us at (210) 316-6953 or fill out the form below. Tell us about the property and where you are in the probate process. We’ll give you a cash offer within 24 hours and answer any questions about next steps.

No pressure. No obligation. Just honest answers from local professionals who’ve done this many times before.

¿Hablas español? Alejandro puede ayudarte en español. Llámanos al (310) 721-3242

Inherited Properties We Buy Throughout San Antonio

We purchase inherited homes in every San Antonio neighborhood, regardless of condition or situation:

Southside and East Side: Older homes that often need significant updates. Many have been in families for generations.

Medical Center and Balcones Heights: Properties near hospitals often inherited by families of healthcare workers who relocated for work.

Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills: Higher-value estates where families need liquidity quickly to settle complex estates.

Stone Oak and the North Side: Newer homes where the primary challenge is usually coordinating multiple out-of-state heirs.

Downtown and Dignowity Hill: Historic properties that may have title complications or need specialized knowledge to sell.

Westside and Lackland area: Homes inherited by military families who’ve PCS’d and can’t manage a property from across the country.

No matter where the property is located in Bexar County, we can help.

Frequently Asked Questions: Selling Inherited Property in San Antonio