Sell Property as an Out-of-State Owner

Owning a Bay Area property from another state — through inheritance, a move, or simply holding on to it — comes with its own friction. You cannot easily inspect the property, meet an agent in person, or sign documents on short notice. We work with out-of-state and absentee owners regularly and structure the process around not being local.

How a remote sale works

We handle the property review without requiring you to be present — photos, a local visit on our end, and documentation we can gather independently of you. Once there’s a number you want to move forward with, the paperwork is handled remotely: documents can be sent to you electronically or by mail, and anything that requires notarization can be notarized wherever you are, either through a mobile notary local to you or, where state law allows, remote online notarization.

Where notary services fit in

Deeds, powers of attorney, and other recordable documents generally need to be signed in front of a notary. If you are not in California, that notary does not need to be either — most states allow an out-of-state notary to notarize a document meant for California, as long as it is done correctly. If you would rather have someone handle the California side of the paperwork for you, a power of attorney naming a local representative is a common approach, and we can point you to how that generally works. Notary services on this site are provided separately by Notary Experts, kept apart from the property purchase itself. See Property Document Notary for more on that side.

What we will not promise

We cannot give you legal or tax advice about owning or selling property as a non-resident, including any state-specific withholding or reporting rules that may apply — that is a conversation for a California real estate attorney or a tax professional familiar with non-resident sales. What we can do is make the logistics of the sale itself straightforward.

Questions people ask

Do I need to fly out to sell the property?

Usually not. Most of the process can be handled remotely, including signing.

What if I inherited the property and I’m not sure what condition it’s in?

Tell us what you know. We can review the property independently and walk you through what we find. See also Sell Inherited Property.

Is there a withholding requirement for non-resident sellers?

California does have withholding rules that can apply to non-resident sellers in some situations. This is a tax question specific to your situation — talk to a tax professional before closing.

Can someone else sign on my behalf?

Often, with a properly executed power of attorney. We can point you toward how that generally works; the document itself should be prepared or reviewed by an attorney.

Talk to us

Call or text (510) 417-9089, or send the short form on this page, and tell us the city and your situation.

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Please read this part

Property inquiries through this page go to the property division of Bay Area Services. Notary services on this website are provided separately by Notary Experts. A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures and cannot give legal advice or take part in a property purchase. Nothing on this page is a promise of an offer or a price. For legal or tax questions about a sale, talk to a California attorney or tax professional.