Homeowners recently passed away

[Melvin Kim]

I recently came across a house with an overgrown yard. Did some research and learned the homeowner had recently died. 

Does someone have recommendations on the best way to move forward on giving an offer? Not sure who I would approach or how.

Thanks in advance!

[Christopher Phillips]

@Melvin Kim

Depends on too many factors. If they had a will or not, which state the homeowners lived in, how many heirs are in the picture, how many other assets they have.

In a simple scenario, there is a will and now an heir owns it. You would have to try and track down the heir or wait for it to come on to the market. Sometimes heirs hold onto things, sometimes not. Sometimes the heirs just can’t decide what to do.

Could be no will and the house will have to go to probate and settle their debts. The process depends on the state.

Could be they have a reverse mortgage and the bank will take the house if the heirs don’t pay off the mortgage.

Could try and check the obituaries. They often name surviving kin. Could check white pages and other sites, they usually list relatives.