HomeBlogReasons to SellSelling a House in Probate in St. Louis Share on Like what you see? Share with a friend. Selling a House in Probate in St. Louis Chris Kirshenboim | March 30, 2022 Last updated August 9, 2026 Selling a house in probate starts with one question: has the court appointed a personal representative, and with what authority? Nobody can sign a deed until that happens, which is why the first several weeks feel like nothing is moving. Missouri then offers two tracks. Independent administration lets the representative sell largely on their own judgment. Supervised administration routes the sale through the judge, with notice periods and often a hearing where the price can be challenged. Your estate attorney will tell you which track you are on, and that answer changes the timeline far more than anything about the house does. Then there is the house. Most of these homes have been empty for months, the taxes and utilities are still running, and the heirs are usually spread across several states. That is what makes a probate home sale in St. Louis different from an ordinary one: the cost of waiting is real and it lands on the estate. We buy houses in any condition, including everything left inside, so nobody has to fund a cleanout out of pocket before closing. Read how we buy houses for the steps, and what to know about probate and your St. Louis real estate covers the legal side. If the estate has already closed and title is in your name, selling a house you inherited is the simpler path. Chris and the team hold a 4.9 rating across 368 Google reviews and an A+ BBB accreditation. It can be costly to go through, so avoid making the mistake of skipping any of the legal requirements which can further tie up your property. You’ll need to be patient as the assets of the deceased are analyzed and the rightful inheritors of the estate are determined. Executors may need to liquidate the real estate, leading to the probate court distributing the funds evenly among those beneficiaries. Should you find yourself in this position, read on for information on how to sell a probate property in St. Louis. Certain aspects of this real estate law are common among all jurisdictions, for a valid sale, you’ll want to ensure you’ve rigorously followed all of the legalities for selling your probate property in St. Louis. How To Sell a Probate Property in St. Louis Certified Appraiser Your first step will be to locate an independent certified appraiser. You can either reach out through phone listings or word of mouth among probate property real estate professionals in St. Louis. Petition Once you’ve obtained your certified appraisal, you’ll next want to proceed by filing a petition with the court to sell the probate property in St. Louis. While filling out your petition, be certain the information includes any pertinent information about the property along with the method that will be used to complete the sale, be it at an auction or on the open real estate market. Submit your petition along with your certified appraisal. Once you’ve obtained the court's approval, you may then proceed with the sale. Offer the Property For sale, with conditions! Now that you can finally take action and sell your probate property in St. Louis, you’ll want to make certain to disclose to your potential buyer that the court's confirmation of the transaction is required before you can accept, making the offer conditional. Court Confirmation Commonly, once you’ve petitioned the court for a hearing to confirm your sale, you can expect delays on the court calendars ranging from between 20 to 40 days, from the filing date. Deposit Plan to collect a 10 percent deposit from the buyer at this time, which is based on the purchase price. Advertise Because the ultimate goal of the sale of a probate property in St. Louis is to garner the highest amount possible for the estate, you must advertise your court hearing to the general public for a process known as open bidding. This allows any additional interested parties to participate in the purchase of the real estate, aiding in raising the final purchase price. Court Hearing Now you’ll need to attend the court hearing and wait until the unconditional bidding has concluded and a cashier's check is presented for the final figure. Your buyer will be able to participate along with any member of the public who so chooses, bids increase by $500 at a time. Refunding the Deposit Should a new buyer overbid your buyer during the court proceedings, be prepared to refund their 10 percent deposit. Otherwise, should your original buyer maintain the highest bid, the funds you previously collected from them would be applied to the purchase. Closing Finally, you can close on the contract for your probate property in [markte_city]. Be certain that the costs of the property are covered by the financing. You’ll also be responsible for placing the full amount into the estate fund. We’re here to assist you during this difficult time and make the process easy. Call Chris Buys Homes in St. Louis today at (314) 334-1481 or send us a message to sell a probate property in St. Louis. FAQs Frequently Asked Questions Who has the authority to sell a house in probate? + The personal representative the court appoints, either named in the will or chosen by the judge. Heirs cannot sign a deed on their own until that appointment has been made. How long does probate take in St. Louis before a house can sell? + Appointment usually takes a few weeks. After that an independent estate can move at a normal pace, while a supervised one adds notice periods and often an approval hearing. What happens to the mortgage and the taxes during probate? + They keep accruing and the estate is responsible for them. That carrying cost is why many families sell rather than hold an empty house through a long administration.
