Although you don’t wish any ill luck on your family, some days everyone has a short-lived fantasy of inheriting a gorgeous home from a relative. However, as many have discovered the painful way, receiving a house means inheriting the debt as well. In the past, most homeowners would have had their mortgage paid off well before they entered their golden years. However, today that is likely not an option for most, either due to lower wages, higher taxes, or other factors. It might feel tempting to hold on to your new house but making the mortgage payments might not be a possibility, especially if you’re still reasonably young or haven’t obtained a high enough paying job. As a result, you might need to sell as quickly as you can to escape your newfound unexpected debt. If you get strapped with an inherited home you can’t afford, you can always count on GA Investments to make you a fair offer today. Below are some other reasons why you’ll want to sell an inherited house quickly.
Tax Considerations
They say the only thing you can expect in life is death and taxes, but the difference is that expenses continue living. If you inherit a house, you’ll likely have several tax types looming over your head. For starters, there is the estate tax, where the state receives a portion of the assets left behind. Although estate taxes vary by state, most don’t miss an opportunity to make some additional revenue. If the estate tax doesn’t impact what you receive, the inheritance tax likely will. What you owe gets based on the net worth of what you inherit, meaning whatever you get minus any lingering expenses (like mortgages). Inheriting a home means paying the property tax for the land it sits on as well, and if you sell the house, you’ll likely need to pay capital gains taxes. Although the idea of a free residence might sound good on paper, you’ll probably need to offload it quickly.
Repairing the Residence
Maintaining an entire house is a lot easier when you’re young. However, the older someone gets, the more difficult it is to climb ladders and swing hammers. If you inherit a home, the chances are that you now have many maintenance and repair items that must get completed. Unfortunately, if it includes more significant things like a new roof or replacement plumbing, it might not even be worth it. When a home sits in disrepair for too long, it becomes less worthwhile to restore it. If the previous owners allowed it to ignore its maintenance needs, your new house might not even be safe to live. It’s best to weigh what you now owe on the home, as well as the number of repair costs that need to go into it before deciding to keep it. Otherwise, you might be better off walking away.
Is It in Your Community?
The number of people who remain in the town or city that they grew up in isn’t nearly as prevalent as it was a few decades ago. As the job market changes, as well as the typical life cycle of towns, you might inherit a home that is nowhere close to where you live. When you first receive news that you’re getting a house in a different area than where you reside, it might feel charming at first. Once you start looking at images of your potential new community, you might get the bug to pack up and move. However, there are numerous costs associated with moving, and if the home requires repairs, it might not be sturdy enough to support you. Many people have gotten themselves stuck in a house that they can’t stay in by acting out this fantasy. Instead, it may be best to stay away from the house entirely and sell it off, especially if you aren’t familiar with the market. When you line a buyer up fast, it can help make the situation go smoother.
Reverse Mortgage
Reverse mortgages are typical for older homeowners as they give up ownership in exchange for monthly allowances. However, if they pass on, the reverse mortgage stays in place until it’s paid off. Most institutions give heirs 12 months to pay the mortgage back, so at least you have some time to discuss your options. Many people, however, wind up selling the home to pay it off. If 11 months go by, however, you’ll need to line up a buyer faster. That is where you can rely on an investment group like GA Investments to make you an offer quickly.