Selling a Scottsdale Condo After an Owner’s Death

We receive many inquiries from family members navigating the sale of a condo owned by someone who has recently passed. It makes sense — older residents often gravitate toward condos and townhomes for the low-maintenance lifestyle, and when they pass, their families are left managing the sale while also grieving. It’s a lot to handle at once.

We always recommend having an attorney available to help field legal and tax questions throughout the process. In the meantime, here are answers to the most common questions we hear.

Am I legally allowed to sell the condo?

In most cases, yes — if you fall into one of these categories:

Your spouse passed away and you were both on the title with rights of survivorship, which is the most common arrangement for married couples.
The condo is held in a trust and you are the trustee.
You have been appointed Personal Representative (also called Executor) by the court through probate.

What paperwork will I need?

If the property is in a trust, you’ll need the trust documents confirming your role as trustee. If the estate is going through probate, you’ll need court documents showing your appointment as Personal Representative. In all cases, a certified death certificate issued by the county is required.

Before listing, we recommend having the title or escrow company review all documents to confirm there won’t be any issues with the transfer.

What do I do with the belongings?

This is often the most time-consuming part of the process — and it’s best not to put it off until you have a buyer under contract. Some condos can be sold furnished, particularly if a second-home buyer wants a move-in ready property and the furniture is in good condition. We can advise on whether to keep or clear the furnishings before listing. Other options include donations, estate sales, or selling through third-party platforms. Just be sure to check your HOA rules before holding an estate sale or removing items in bulk.

What fees should I expect?

Start by confirming that HOA dues are current — the HOA management company can provide a statement. If dues are delinquent, it may be possible to bring them current at closing rather than upfront. There may also be HOA transfer fees and statement fees due at closing, along with standard selling costs. We can provide an estimate of those fees, and some can be negotiated with the buyer during the sale.

What is the condo worth?

That depends on your goals. Selling for top dollar may mean timing the market and allowing more time on the market. A faster sale may mean pricing more competitively. Either way, condo valuation is our specialty — we’ll help you price it correctly to meet your needs.

Settling an estate is never easy, but having the right team in place makes the property side of it much more manageable. We’re happy to meet with you, review the situation, and provide a complimentary price analysis for the condo. Contact us anytime.

Information in this article has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed.