
In Stockton, California, many families have faced a common, yet often painful dilemma—what to do with an inherited house.
Sadly, without proper forethought, you may suddenly face life without your parents, who have left their property to all of their children without a plan in place, which can be quite a chaotic experience. Dealing with a sudden whirlwind of paperwork and details during such an emotionally difficult time can be extremely daunting. And there is a great deal of critical legal and financial information you will also have to absorb.
For many, it’s not just the property that’s problematic, but a family member who refuses to leave or move on, turning the inheritance into an emotional and financial quagmire.
Even for siblings who can move through the loss of their parent in harmony, the estate settlement will be a long, costly, and drawn-out process that can take years if you should face probate court.
Keep reading to hear the story of one local Stockton family who dealt with this situation, plus 5 tips for siblings dealing with inherited property in Stockton, CA.
The Haunted Inheritance: When a Family Home Becomes a Burden
When Sarah Martinez inherited her parents’ house in Stockton, she had no idea what she was stepping into. The house was old and outdated, but it had sentimental value. At first, everything seemed manageable. One of her siblings, Tom, who had been living there rent-free for years, offered to stay and take care of the house while the family decided what to do with it. “I’ll pay the property taxes and handle the maintenance until we’re ready to sell,” he said. It seemed like a good solution during a difficult time.
But over the next two years, Sarah’s hopes unraveled. Tom never made any repairs, ignored the property taxes, and the house became a neglected eyesore. It wasn’t just the house that was falling apart—so were Sarah’s relationships with her family. When she tried to talk to Tom about the deteriorating condition of the house, his excuses piled up: “I can’t afford to fix it. The house was in worse shape when I moved in.” Sarah felt trapped—no one wanted to be the “bad guy,” but the situation was only getting worse.
The Breaking Point: An Inherited Property That’s Now a Liability
The house was no longer a family asset; it had become a financial burden. Repairs were needed, property taxes were overdue, and Tom was still living there without contributing. Sarah, as the executor, knew she had to act fast. But how could she ask her brother to leave without causing a family rift? The situation became untenable.

The market was already flooded with similar homes, and the longer Sarah delayed, the less valuable the property became. She needed a solution—fast.
A Fresh Start: Selling for Cash, Without the Stress
After months of frustration, Sarah found a way out. She saw one of my “I Buy Houses In Any Condition” signs on a telephone pole and she picked up the phone to call me at (209) 481-7780.
After a quick visit to view and evaluate the condition of the home, I offered to purchase the house as-is for cash, taking care of the repairs, and even helping with the eviction process if needed. Me and my team are experienced in handling situations like Sarah’s, where family dynamics and property issues collide.
In a matter of weeks, the house was sold, freeing Sarah from the emotional and financial burden. The family could finally move on, and Sarah could focus on healing, knowing the situation had been handled with understanding and professionalism.
If you’re in a situation similar to Sarah, I can help. My name is Peter Westbrook and I am a local real estate investor and the owner of We Buy Houses Stockton and Westbrook Real Estate Investments in Stockton, California.
Sell Your Stockton Home Fast
We will buy your house “As-Is” in ANY CONDITION! Fill in your info below and get a no-obligation CASH offer:What is the best way to manage inheritance property with siblings?
If you find yourself dealing with an inherited property and struggling with siblings, here are 5 tips to help you deal with this tricky situation:
Tip 1: One Person in Charge
If your parent didn’t set out a strategy in the will, such as appointing a non-sibling trustee, having one person coordinate everything is advantageous for siblings dealing with an inherited property in Stockton.
There should be one central checklist to ensure that everyone follows up on the steps necessary to manage the property.
It is helpful to handle all of the tasks by dividing the responsibilities among the siblings, and everyone can keep the person in charge of their progress, such as paying property taxes or performing routine maintenance of the property. You may find it best to hire a property manager and share the expenses.
Tip 2: Stay Civil with Your Siblings
The sad truth is that more than half of all Americans die without a will in place.
Communication is key and an essential tip for siblings dealing with an inherited property in Stockton.
If you cannot have calm, adult discussions regarding business matters, it may be wise to bring in an impartial mediator. It is better to act sooner than later. Establishing guidelines and working out details helps avoid conflict among the siblings; after all, preserving the family is the ultimate goal.
Tip 3: Right Motivations
At times, a parent will favor giving to each by their need, perhaps aware of economic issues that particular child faces. Alternatively, a parent may dislike or even distrust a child’s spouse and place their portion of the inheritance under the control of another party. In contrast, other parents may prefer splitting the estate evenly in the hopes of avoiding hurt feelings or jealousy. Often infighting and emotional outbursts occur, which can cause long-term family rifts.
One of the top conflicts among siblings is how to divide an inheritance, so it would well serve parents and their children to discuss the matter openly. Understanding the motivation behind the estate division is helpful for siblings dealing with an inherited property in Stockton.
Tip 4: Be Fair with Your Family
Being incredibly realistic is a valuable tip for siblings dealing with an inherited property in Stockton, which means acknowledging that there will be disagreements in the future. By accepting this reality, you can plan to deal with these situations in advance, with a system for majority rule that everyone feels is fair, whether it is a decision about paint color or more significant, such as a sibling desiring to live in the property full time.
You will be glad you took the time to create some rules for guidance on permanent decisions, above the individual emotions of the siblings, which may be temporary.
Tip 5: Sell and Divide the Inherited Property
Finally, for siblings dealing with an inherited property in Stockton, selling the property and splitting the profits is a good solution if owning property will cause a rift. Another reason to sell and divide the proceeds is that one or more of the siblings cannot financially carry their share of any financial burdens or are under extreme economic duress and need the funds. Perhaps none of the children wish to live in or make use of the property.
Regrettably, while many parents have the best intentions, they pass on a home in a state of severe disrepair, and the heirs don’t have the time or interest in making repairs. Another situation that may call for the siblings to agree to sell is when the property is near being foreclosed upon, which requires a fast sale.
A solution for selling an inherited property with your siblings: Selling the house for cash quickly.
At Westbrook REI, we can help siblings quickly and easily deal with selling an inherited property in Stockton.
Would you like to run your situation by a professional without any obligation? Feel free to ask us any questions or share any concerns you might have about the process.
We are local, experienced home buyers at Westbrook REI and our supporting team of professionals have a system that allows us to close with cash in a matter of days or weeks when you are ready to sell. Send us a message or call Westbrook REI at (209) 481-7780, we are happy to help.