Are Property Taxes Deferred in Probate?

[Steven Scheetz]

My mother-in-law and her sister are likely to inherit a home in San Diego. According to her, the value on Zillow is about 1.2M. She also said that it is in good shape, but has not been updated for several years (I’m guessing late 80s). So I’d like to help her out. I want to give her all the costs associated with updating it and selling it in a retail environment with a Realtor. I’d then like to help her calculate the most reasonable offer she could expect to sell it to an investor; and then she can determine whether it is worth it for her to go through the trouble of updating it. I’m treading lightly, because I don’t want to insert myself in delicate family/sibling matters; but I just want her to have all the information for her and her sister to make an educated decision.

I think I’ve figured out most of the costs associated with a cosmetic rehab and commissions and such. I’m curious though if the probate process defers the property taxes owed. And if so, do those taxes get paid directly by the estate before the assets are dispersed to the heirs? Or will my mother-in-law and her sister have to continue to pay the property taxes in the interim until everything is settled, lest they face tax foreclosure before the estate is settled? Any help is much appreciated.