Selling an inherited house in Dunedin

Dunedin houses, old and new

Dunedin's character comes from its Scottish heritage, its walkable downtown, and the Pinellas Trail running right through it. Near downtown there are older Florida cottages and bungalows. Beyond that, most neighborhoods are 1950s through 1980s ranch homes, with newer homes mixed in. Along the water facing St. Joseph Sound and toward Honeymoon and Caladesi islands, there are waterfront homes that sit in flood zones.

Older cottages often need roofs, electrical updates, or termite work. Waterfront homes may have taken on water during Helene or Milton in 2024. We buy either kind as it stands.

When the heir lives very far away

Distance changes how a family feels about a house. It is hard to manage a property from a thousand miles away, and harder still from overseas.

One of our sellers, Miadora, lives in Romania. Through a private investigator, we found him and told him that his former wife and son had died in Florida and that he was next of kin to their homes. The documents were translated and certified into Romanian, and he signed and notarized them there. The closing was done by remote online notarization with an international wire. Alex also visited his son's grave and sent him photos and the coordinates. In his review, Miadora wrote: "Alex did the impossible for me."

Most out-of-town Dunedin heirs live in other states, and their situations are much simpler. But the same tools apply: notarized signatures where you live, one walkthrough by someone local, and a remote closing. Read more in selling an inherited house from out of state.

Keeping an empty house safe in the meantime

While probate is pending, someone should keep an eye on the house. A few practical steps help:

• Keep the power and water on so the air conditioning can control humidity and mold.
• Ask a neighbor to watch for unfamiliar cars or people.
• Call the homeowner's insurance company. Many policies change when a home is vacant.
• Keep the lawn mowed so the city does not send code notices.

If anything goes wrong in the meantime, such as a break-in or a leak, we still buy the house as-is.

Taxes on an inherited Dunedin house

Out-of-state heirs often ask what they will owe. A few general points:

• Florida has no state inheritance tax or estate tax.
• Inherited property generally receives a stepped-up tax basis equal to its value at the date of death, so selling soon after usually means little or no capital gain.
• Property taxes on the house usually go up the year after the owner's death, because the homestead exemption and the Save Our Homes cap end.

Your own state's rules may differ, so confirm the details with a CPA. We are not tax advisors or attorneys.

Probate and what we pay

An independent licensed Florida probate attorney prepares the filings and represents the estate. We pay that cost, typically about $3,000 including court fees, and it is not deducted from the heirs' share. Where the estate fits the summary process, the attorney’s filings are frequently complete within 24 to 48 hours of everyone signing. Formal administration, which includes a creditor notice period of about three months, takes longer. Closing usually follows about a week after probate at a licensed Florida title company. We are not attorneys, and this is general information.

Pinellas Probate Home Buyers is the probate division of 131 Cash Home Buyers. Call or text Alex at (727) 353-6206.

We’re a home-buying company, not attorneys. This page is general information about Florida probate, not legal advice; an independent licensed Florida probate attorney represents the estate in every probate we pay for. Last updated November 2026.