Inherited a House With Your Siblings in Texas? How to Decide Together

When parents leave a house to more than one child, everyone suddenly owns a piece of the same home. One sibling may want to sell right away. Another may want to move in, and a third may live out of state and just want it handled. That's normal, and it doesn't have to tear the family apart. Here's how families we work with usually get to a decision.

Start with the same information

Most disagreements come from people working off different assumptions. Before anyone decides anything, make sure every sibling has the same facts:

• What the house is likely worth today, as-is and after some prep
• What it costs each month to keep it: mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep
• What repairs it needs and roughly what they cost
• Where the estate is in the probate process, and who has authority to sign

A local Realtor can put the value and costs on one page for everyone. It's much easier to agree when you're all looking at the same numbers.

The four most common options

• Sell and split the proceeds. The simplest choice, and the most common. Each heir receives their share at closing, after costs.
• One sibling buys out the others. Works well when someone wants to keep the home. A fair value estimate or an appraisal helps everyone feel the price is right.
• Keep it as a rental. The family shares the income and the expenses. Agree in writing on who manages it and how decisions get made.
• One sibling lives there. Possible, but agree up front on rent, who pays taxes and repairs, and what happens when someone wants to sell later.

Tips for keeping the peace

• Pick one point of contact — often the executor — to coordinate with the attorney, the Realtor and vendors
• Share every quote and offer with everyone, in writing
• Set deadlines for decisions so the house doesn't sit empty for months
• Give everyone time to choose sentimental items before the estate sale or cleanout

When you can't agree

If the family truly can't reach a decision, talk to your probate attorney about your options. In Texas, a co-owner can ask a court to divide the property or order a sale, called a partition. It's usually slower and more expensive than agreeing, so most families treat it as a last resort.

We can help everyone get on the same page

Southern Luxe Group helps families in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and Bryan–College Station sort out inherited homes. We'll give every sibling the same value range and options, with real numbers. Get a no-pressure plan for the property or call Trina at (512) 629-9050.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Please consult a Texas probate attorney about your family's situation.