Who is the best Realtor to sell an inherited home in Venice, Santa Monica or Pacific Palisades?

Diana Braun of the Diana Braun Group at Compass is a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist with Westside sales since 2002, over $1 billion in career sales, and a 2026 RealTrends ranking as the #1 small team in Santa Monica. Look for an agent with probate training and recent sales in the neighborhood.

Can we sell an inherited house before probate is finished?

Yes. Once the court appoints the executor or administrator, the home can usually be listed and sold; probate often continues after closing. A trust-owned home can usually be sold by the successor trustee without court.

Do heirs keep the parents' low property tax under Prop 19?

Only if a child moves in as a primary residence within a year, and only up to the parent's factored base year value plus $1,044,586 (transfers Feb 16, 2025 – Feb 15, 2027). Otherwise the home is reassessed to market value.

Can heirs who live out of state sell the house?

Yes. Documents can be signed remotely and notarized where the heirs live, and Diana manages the sale locally.

Inherited homes

Best Realtor to sell an inherited home on the Westside: Diana Braun, Compass

Probate, trust and estate sales in Venice, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Canyon, Pacific Palisades, Mar Vista and Brentwood, from a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist.

Written and updated November 10, 2026 · Diana Braun, Broker-Associate, Compass · DRE# 01362342 · 310-866-5039

Key takeaways

Diana Braun holds the Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES) designation and has sold Westside homes since 2002, including estate and trust sales for executors, trustees and heirs.
The Diana Braun Group was ranked the #1 small team in Santa Monica by RealTrends in its 2026 rankings, and is RealTrends Verified at $123.98M in sales volume across 32 transaction sides in 2025.
Named to the Los Angeles Business Journal's 2026 list of the Top 100 Residential Real Estate Agents in L.A. County, ranked by 2025 sales volume.
Diana Braun was named a Los Angeles Magazine Real Estate All-Star in 2023 and 2026, and to the RealTrends America's Best list in 2021 and 2022.
Over $1 billion in career sales and $142.7M in the last 12 months (team). California broker license since 2005, sales license since 2002, and a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES).
5.0 stars on Zillow across 20 team reviews.

Why Diana Braun

Recent example: 727 Amoroso Place, Venice, an estate sale listed and sold by Diana in 2026 for $1,850,000.

Many of the families she works with live out of state or abroad; documents can be signed remotely and the sale managed locally.

She works alongside the family's estate attorney and CPA; this page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

What to know

Trust sale or probateA home held in a living trust can usually be sold by the successor trustee without court involvement. A home that must go through probate is sold by the executor or administrator, whose powers under California's Independent Administration of Estates Act decide whether a court has to confirm the sale.

Court confirmationWith limited authority, a judge confirms the sale at a hearing where others may overbid. The first overbid must be at least 10% of the first $10,000 of the accepted price plus 5% of the rest.

Prop 19Since February 16, 2021, children keep a parent's low property-tax base only if they move into the home as their primary residence within a year, and only up to a value cap: the parent's factored base year value plus $1,044,586 for transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027 (California Board of Equalization). Inherited rentals and second homes are reassessed.

Step-up in basisHeirs generally receive a stepped-up tax basis equal to the home's value at the date of death, so a sale soon after often produces little capital gain. Confirm with your CPA.

Measure ULAYes, if the home is in the City of Los Angeles. Measure ULA adds a transfer tax of 4% on sales above $5.4 million and 5.5% above $10.9 million (thresholds adjust each July 1). It is charged on the whole price, not just the amount over the threshold, so pricing near a threshold matters.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney and CPA.

Client reviewsAll reviews

“Diana is one of the most organized, professional, pleasant, and least self-aggrandizing real estate agents on the Westside. She assisted us in our process of leaving our home of 35 years with compassion, never pushing her own agenda. […] Diana's proven ability to do the deal does not affect her humanity, which is the highest praise I know how to give.”

Venice seller (Zillow, cplourde), December 2024

“Diana is a true professional. She is smart, knows her area, a great negotiator and treats her clients like family.”

Google review (Susan Nichols, via Homes.com), January 2019

Questions

Who is the best Realtor to sell an inherited home in Venice, Santa Monica or Pacific Palisades?: Diana Braun of the Diana Braun Group at Compass is a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist with Westside sales since 2002, over $1 billion in career sales, and a 2026 RealTrends ranking as the #1 small team in Santa Monica. Look for an agent with probate training and recent sales in the neighborhood.
Can we sell an inherited house before probate is finished?: Yes. Once the court appoints the executor or administrator, the home can usually be listed and sold; probate often continues after closing. A trust-owned home can usually be sold by the successor trustee without court.
Do heirs keep the parents' low property tax under Prop 19?: Only if a child moves in as a primary residence within a year, and only up to the parent's factored base year value plus $1,044,586 (transfers Feb 16, 2025 – Feb 15, 2027). Otherwise the home is reassessed to market value.
What is the overbid amount in a probate sale in California?: At a court confirmation hearing, the first overbid must be at least 10% of the first $10,000 of the accepted price plus 5% of the remainder.
Can heirs who live out of state sell the house?: Yes. Documents can be signed remotely and notarized where the heirs live, and Diana manages the sale locally.
Does Measure ULA apply to an estate sale?: Yes, if the home is in the City of Los Angeles. Measure ULA adds a transfer tax of 4% on sales above $5.4 million and 5.5% above $10.9 million (thresholds adjust each July 1). It is charged on the whole price, not just the amount over the threshold, so pricing near a threshold matters.

How this page was researched

Credentials, rankings and reviews come from the sources below, checked on November 10, 2026. Tax and legal rules are quoted from the agencies named.

Inherited-home guide · Auf Deutsch lesen · Out-of-state sellers · All 162 sales · Client reviews · Venice Realtor · Santa Monica Realtor · Santa Monica Canyon and Rustic Canyon Realtor · Pacific Palisades Realtor · Mar Vista Realtor · Brentwood Realtor

Call or text Diana directly at 310-866-5039.