Selling a House in Tennessee?
Start Here.
Your Tennessee Home Selling Resource Center
For more than 20 years, I've been buying houses from people going through something hard, and my team has closed more than 3,000 transactions. Tennessee sellers call about the same things I hear everywhere: a parent's estate, a notice of sale in the paper, a delinquent tax suit, a tenant who stopped paying, or a house sitting empty.
Tennessee has its own rules for each. Heirs generally own the house at death, but without a power of sale someone has to go to court or every heir has to sign, and there's no transfer-on-death deed. Foreclosures happen out of court in a matter of weeks. Unpaid taxes go to chancery court, and a 2024 law lets the sheriff remove squatters quickly.
These guides explain it in plain English so you can decide what's right for you: sell to me, list with an agent, or keep the house.
Tennessee's Most Common Home Selling Situations
Most Tennessee calls I get fit one of these. Each comes with its own Tennessee rules and deadlines, so start with yours.
Foreclosure
The timeline is short, so the sooner you look at your options, the more equity you can keep.
Learn about selling a house in foreclosure in Tennessee →Delinquent Property Taxes
Back taxes can be paid from a sale at closing, before the tax sale.
Learn about selling a house with delinquent taxes in Tennessee →- How do back taxes reach a tax sale?
- How long do I have to redeem?
- How do Nashville and Memphis handle it?
- What if I inherited a house with back taxes?
Vacant House
Every month the house sits, the costs and risks add up.
Learn about selling a vacant house in Tennessee →Probate
Selling a probate house starts with who has the right to sign.
Learn how to sell a house in probate in Tennessee →- Does the house go through probate?
- Does a judge have to approve?
- How long do creditors have?
- Can I serve from another state?
Inherited House
Inheriting a house means sorting out who signs, what it's worth and what to do with it.
Read my Tennessee inherited house guide →- Who owns it now?
- Why does it matter that Tennessee has no TOD deed?
- What if I share it with siblings?
- What do I have to disclose?
Bad Tenants
You can sell a rental with a problem tenant still in it.
Learn about selling a house with bad tenants in Tennessee →- Can I sell with the tenant there?
- How does a Tennessee eviction work?
- Should I pay the tenant to leave?
- What happens to the deposit?
Home Selling Guides
These guides cover the basics of selling a house anywhere, whatever the reason you're thinking about it.
How Cash Home Buyers Work
How cash buyers and real estate investors buy houses, how offers are put together, and what to expect from start to finish.
Learn how cash home buyers work →Selling Your House As-Is
What "as-is" really means, when repairs are worth it, and what buyers expect.
Read my guide to selling your house as-is →How Home Value Is Determined
Location, condition, comparable sales and the market, and how each one moves the number.
Learn how home value is determined →Understanding Closing Costs
What closing costs are, who usually pays them, and what to expect on closing day.
Read my guide to closing costs →Does Making Repairs Always Increase Home Value?
When repairs pay for themselves, when they don't, and how to compare repair costs with what you'd actually net.
Learn when repairs increase home value →What Affects a Cash Offer?
How condition, repairs, resale value, demand, holding costs and risk shape the number a cash buyer offers.
Learn what affects a cash offer →How Selling Your House Works
Whether the house is in great shape or needs everything, the process is the same.
- 1
Tell Me About the Property
The address, the condition and what's going on. The more I know, the better I can lay out your options.
- 2
I'll Review Your Options
I'll look at the house and the situation, answer your questions and tell you what makes the most sense, including when that's listing with an agent.
- 3
Receive a No-Obligation Offer
If selling to me is a good fit, you get a straight as-is number. And there's no obligation to accept my offer — you're in the driver's seat.
- 4
Choose Your Closing Date
Close with a Tennessee title company or closing attorney on the date that works for you.
Why Tennessee Homeowners Choose Dennis Buys Houses
Selling a house is rarely just a money decision. It's usually tied to a death in the family, a financial squeeze or a big change. So I keep the process simple and tell you the truth about your options.
When you call, you get me. No AI, no assistants. And if another option makes more sense than selling to me, I'll tell you upfront.
Serving Homeowners Throughout Tennessee
I buy houses throughout Tennessee. These are the areas where I'm most active right now.
Nashville
Davidson County · Antioch · Madison · Bordeaux · Donelson · Hermitage
Memphis
Shelby County · Whitehaven · Frayser · Raleigh · Orange Mound · Hickory Hill
Knoxville
Knox County · East Knoxville · Fountain City · Halls · Powell
Chattanooga
Hamilton County · East Ridge · Red Bank · Hixson · Brainerd
Frequently Asked Questions
Statewide. Most of my Tennessee calls come from Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Yes. Foundation, termite and storm damage are all fine, and you don't fix anything first.
Take what you want and leave the rest. Dennis Buys Houses handles what's left.
Usually. We'll work with the executor, the heirs and the closing attorney to get the right signatures.
Not until the sale, but Tennessee moves fast, so call right away.
No. Those are paid off from the sale at closing.
Once title is clear, you pick the date.
No agent commission when you sell to me, because nobody is listing the house.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
No two Tennessee homeowners have exactly the same story.
Whether it's an estate, a notice of sale, a tax suit, a tenant or an empty house, I'll help you understand your options without any pressure.
Read the guides above, or tell me what's going on with the house. Even if selling isn't the right answer, I'll point you in the right direction.
Prefer to talk first? Call (734) 224-5977