This probate sales activity report includes probate, trust and conservatorship sales in Santa Clara County in August 2018. This report is comprised of statistical data from August 1, 2018, through August 31, 2018, extracted from our local Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”) as of September 1, 2018. The data includes single family homes, condominiums, and townhouses and may not include “off-market” sales.
Probate & Trust Sales Activity August 2018
- 7 Active properties for sale
- 6 single-family homes
- 1 condominium
- 5 probate sales
- 2 trust sales
- 11 Pending sales (Under Contract)
- All single family homes
- 10 probate sales
- 1 conservatorship sale
- 8 Sold Homes
- All single family homes
- All probate sales
The highest price home sold was a single family home located in Mountain View 94043. The home has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, approximately 1,337 square feet of living space on an 8,505 square foot lot. The home was 69 years old. Included in the sale is an unpermitted 720 square foot guest house with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room.
It listed on July 13, 2018. List price $1,788,888. On August 2, 2018, the MLS reported pending status. On August 29, 2018, it was reported sold. The final sales price reported was $1,680,000. The sale did require court confirmation. One offer was received. It was a cash sale.
The lowest price home sold was a single-family home in San Jose 95111. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and approximately 900 square feet of living space and a 5,073 square foot lot. The property was marketed as a “contractors special”. It listed on June 13, 2018, at a list price of $318,000. On June 29, 2018, the MLS status was changed to pending. On August 9, 2018, the status changed to sold. The final sales price was $470,088. It was a cash sale. Court confirmation was not required.
There are only two trust properties listed for sale in August 2018. Creating estate planning documents, having a trust and funding the trust with assets such as real property means one can avoid probate and a conservatorship.
I see what families go through during the probate process. It can take up to a year or longer to administer and close an estate. The process is under the supervision of the court. In most cases, it also means there is an attorney involved and the estate pays the fees allowed by law.
When assets are held in trust, probate is avoided and so is the court’s supervision. That is why I believe having a trust is among the best gifts we can leave behind. Paying an attorney to create estate planning documents saves costly probate fees. It also helps whoever is managing our estate to have all the necessary documents in order which makes administering the trust much easier.
While many aspects of probate sales may be similar to a non-probate sale of real property, a personal representative is well advised to seek a qualified real estate agent to represent them in the sale of a probate and trust home. We live in a highly specialized world today. Hiring a Certified Probate Agent is just as important as hiring an attorney who specializes in probate.
If you need an attorney who specializes in Probate I am happy to recommend one. If you already have an attorney and simply need help with selling property in probate, trust or conservatorship, then give me a call. I may be reached at my office at 408.972.1822 or on my cell at 408.499.8751. If you prefer, you may request a consultation. We’re here to help.