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Inheriting a house with a mortgage still on it does not mean you have to pay it off immediately or refinance right away — federal law protects heirs from being forced to accelerate the loan just because ownership transferred, but the payments still have to be kept current or the lender can foreclose regardless of … Continued

Most cash home buyers are legitimate local investors or agents making a real business offer, but the industry does have real scams and predatory operators, and knowing the difference protects you before you sign anything. The good news is that a few straightforward checks can tell you a lot about who you are actually dealing … Continued

Yes, you can sell a rental property in Texas with tenants still living in it — existing leases generally transfer to the new owner, and selling to a cash buyer who plans to keep it as a rental is often the smoothest way to do it without disrupting the tenant or ending the lease early. … Continued

Earnest money is a deposit a buyer puts down shortly after a contract is signed to show they are serious about the purchase, and most legitimate cash buyers do put it down, even though a cash sale does not involve a lender requiring one. If a buyer is unwilling to put any earnest money down … Continued

Yes — in Texas, you can sell a house that is already in active foreclosure right up until the moment it actually sells at auction, as long as the sale closes and pays off the loan before that sale date. Once the property sells at auction, it is generally too late; before that, selling is … Continued

A straightforward Texas probate with an independent executor and no disputes can sometimes clear in as little as two to three months, while a contested case, an intestate estate, or one requiring a dependent administration can easily take a year or longer. The type of probate your family is dealing with matters more to the … Continued

Yes, you can sell a house with a tax lien in Texas — the lien has to be paid off, but it almost always comes directly out of the sale proceeds at closing rather than requiring you to pay it out of pocket first. Whether that leaves you with meaningful proceeds or eats up most … Continued

Texas is a community property state, which generally means a house bought during the marriage belongs to both spouses regardless of whose name is on the deed, and a divorce court will divide it in a way the judge finds “just and right” — which is not automatically a 50/50 split. Most couples end up … Continued

If a will names an independent executor, that person generally has legal authority to sell an inherited house without unanimous agreement from every heir — but when multiple heirs inherit a property jointly with no executor in charge, all co-owners typically need to agree, or one heir may have to force a sale through the … Continued

Most conventional mortgages in Texas cannot begin the formal foreclosure process until you are 120 days delinquent, thanks to federal mortgage servicing rules — but your specific loan type, servicer, and loan documents can shorten or lengthen that window. Missing one or two payments does not put you in immediate danger of losing your house. … Continued