There is a range of emotions that can arise from inheriting a house. Perhaps you feel sad because you have lost someone close to you. Knowing what to do next and the financial impact can also be overwhelming. A house is also a very valuable asset, so it can be exciting as well.
How should you proceed if you inherit a house in Albuquerque?
In this situation, you essentially have three options. Sell it, move into it, or rent it.
Concepts to Consider
You will first need to consider your legal and financial obligations when inheriting a house. A loan, for example, might be owed. Inheriting property may also incur tax responsibilities, such as capital gains and federal estate taxes.
It’s not a federal inheritance tax if you inherit a home, but some states have them. In most situations, inheriting property does not automatically result in a tax liability.
An asset, such as a house, can generate capital gains taxes. If you sell the house, you may have to pay capital gains taxes. There are tax implications when a home’s fair market value is less than its sale price when it is inherited.
You may be eligible for an exclusion if you keep the home.
Is There Currently a Mortgage?
Having a house that’s already paid for means fewer financial considerations.
A property with an open mortgage can be assumed, which means you take over the payments as an heir and pay off the debt based on the original terms of the mortgage.
Reverse mortgages and some other loans become due at the time of the borrower’s death or the sale of the property. In such a case, as the heir, you would be required to sell the home and settle the remaining debt if a reverse mortgage is open.
Did You Inherit a House with Your Siblings?
Having several siblings or family members inherit the same house is common and complicating. Therefore, multiple opinions could play a role in the decision on what to do with the property.
A buyout may be an option if there are multiple stakeholders. For whatever reason, one sibling can purchase the other sibling’s home if they want to keep the house.
The simplest thing to do is to sell the home and split the profit. The home can also be rented out and the profits split.
You may need to file a lawsuit for partition if you cannot agree on what to do. In this case, the court will order the sale of the home. Due to the legal fees and time involved, you’ll receive less than you would have without this step.
Can You Move into the House?
You might want to move into an inherited home if there are no complicating factors or if the people who share ownership agree to it. Again, if there is an outstanding mortgage, you’ll need to determine whether or not taking on that debt makes financial sense.
Not only do you have to consider the mortgage payment, but property taxes as well as any other costs associated with owning a home.
Selling your current home and moving in without taking on debt may be possible if you have no obligations.
In order to sell the home you inherited, you have to pay for any needed repairs as well as real estate agent fees and closing costs.
Again, if you fall into a particular tax bracket, you’ll have to pay capital gains on the difference between the fair market value of the property when you inherited it and what you sold it for.
When inheriting a home, many things come into play, from whether or not the home is currently debt-free to how many people share it with you. Make sure you research all financial implications before making any decisions.