Inherited a House in Florida? Here's What to Do Next (Step by Step)

Inheriting a home is one of the most emotionally complex situations a person can face. At the same time you're grieving, you're suddenly responsible for a property — with its mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and all the decisions that come with it. And if you live out of state, or if the home needs work, those responsibilities can feel overwhelming fast.

The good news: you have options. And understanding them clearly — step by step — makes this process far more manageable than it might feel right now.

Step 1 — Understand Whether Probate Is Required in Florida

Before you can do anything with an inherited home in Florida, you need to know whether the property has to go through probate. Probate is the legal process by which a court validates a will and authorizes someone to handle the estate.

When probate is typically required:

• The deceased owned the property in their name alone (no co-owner)
• There was no living trust set up to transfer the property automatically
• The property was not designated as "Transfer on Death" (TOD)
• The property was not jointly titled with right of survivorship

When probate may NOT be required:

• The home was jointly owned with right of survivorship — ownership passes directly to the survivor
• The property was held in a living trust — it transfers according to the trust document
• The estate qualifies for a simplified "summary administration" process (smaller estates in Florida)

If you're unsure whether probate is needed, consult a Florida probate attorney early. Many offer free initial consultations and can tell you within minutes what path applies to your situation.

Step 2 — Assess the Property's Condition

Once you understand the legal status of the property, your next step is a realistic assessment of its physical condition. This doesn't mean you need a full inspection right away — just a general sense of what you're working with.

Key things to evaluate:

• Roof age and condition — in Florida, roofs over 15–20 years old often need replacement soon
• HVAC system — age, whether it's functional, when it was last serviced
• Plumbing and electrical — older homes may have outdated systems that need updating
• General maintenance level — cosmetic issues vs. structural concerns
• Contents — furniture, belongings, and personal items that may need to be sorted or removed
• Ongoing costs — mortgage balance (if any), property taxes, HOA fees, insurance

This assessment helps you make a realistic decision about what to do next — because the condition of the property significantly affects which option makes the most financial sense.

Step 3 — Decide: Keep, Rent, or Sell

Once you know the legal situation and the property's condition, you face the big decision. Here are the three main paths most heirs take:

Why Many Heirs Choose to Sell Quickly — The Cost of Waiting

One thing many people don't realize when they inherit a home is how expensive it is to hold onto it while you're deciding what to do. Every month the property sits costs money.

Even a modest inherited home in Central Florida can cost $500–$1,500 per month just to hold — before any repairs or improvements. Over 6 months of probate and decision-making, that adds up to $3,000–$9,000 in carrying costs alone. Selling quickly eliminates all of it.

How Selling for Cash Makes Inherited Home Sales Simple

Traditional home sales take time — often 60–90 days minimum. And before you can list, you typically need to clean out the home, make repairs, stage it, coordinate with an agent, and deal with showings. When you're grieving, managing an estate, and possibly coordinating with other heirs, that process can be exhausting.

A cash sale with Star Home Solutions works differently:

• No cleanout required. Leave everything in the home — furniture, belongings, even items you don't want. We handle it all after closing.
• No repairs needed. Whether the home is in great shape or needs significant work, we buy it as-is.
• We work with probate timelines. If the estate is still in probate, we can structure the sale to close as soon as the court grants authority to sell.
• Multiple heirs? No problem. We're experienced working with estates where proceeds need to be split between siblings or family members.
• Out of state? We make it easy. Much of our process can be handled remotely. You don't need to fly in to close.

A Quick Note on Taxes — The Step-Up in Basis

One financial benefit many heirs aren't aware of: when you inherit a property, you typically receive what's called a stepped-up cost basis. This means the property's tax basis is reset to its fair market value at the time of the original owner's death — not what they originally paid for it.

In practical terms, this often significantly reduces or eliminates the capital gains taxes you'd owe if you sell the home shortly after inheriting it. It's one of the most favorable tax treatments in the tax code for inherited property.

What to Do Right Now

We Serve All of Central Florida

Star Home Solutions buys inherited homes throughout the Orlando metro area including Longwood, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Winter Park, Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Apopka, Deltona, and DeBary. We're experienced with probate sales, out-of-state heirs, and multi-heir estates throughout Seminole, Orange, or Volusia County.