WHAT NOT TO DO WITH YOUR DAD'S HOME AFTER HE DIES

Did your Dad die in 1997? Did you do anything with the legal status of the home?
You didn’t? That’s awesome… You have delayed the inevitable and it made things worse.

I currently have a listing that was carrying the homestead exemption of the deceased.
Since his son maintained the home as his personal residence, he did not think the homestead exemption needed to change. Well, it turns out the County appraisal district disagrees because the homestead exemption is a personal exemption, not a property exemption. Now that he is ready to sell the property he can’t. The appraisal district has charge penalties and back taxes against the home. Now, you would think you could just pay the charges but, you can’t.

You have to wait 45 days for a statutory protest period, even though there won’t be a protest. Then the change of status is sent to the individual taxing authorities so they can generate bills. This process has taken as long as 18 mos to remedy. Now we have a home that has problems with Title until the bills have been generated and paid. Without clear title you can’t sell your home.

Folks get your affairs in order.