General information, not legal or tax advice. Sidney works alongside your attorney and CPA. Rules as of October 13, 2026; they change, so check the official sources listed below.
When can heirs hold a household sale at a Fontana home?
Only on City-designated weekends; in 2026 they are February 6-8, May 1-3, August 7-9 and November 6-8. Inherited Fontana homes are recorded with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, not LA County. Heirs who plan an estate sale should also note the City's set yard-sale weekends, since sales outside them aren't allowed.
Will property tax go up if we keep the Fontana house?
Only if the home was the parent's principal residence and becomes the child's principal residence. Then the value cap is the home's factored base year value plus $1,044,586 for transfers from 2/16/2025 to 2/15/2027 (State Board of Equalization), and market value above that cap is added to the taxable value. The claim is filed with the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
Which Fontana facts affect the keep-or-sell decision?
Fontana estates are probated at San Bernardino County Superior Court's Fontana District, 17780 Arrow Boulevard. (San Bernardino Superior Court, sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov) Heirs can look up a Fontana home's past permits online through Building and Safety's historical permit portal. (City of Fontana, fontanaca.gov)
What should heirs do first in Fontana?
Sort belongings, hold a household sale if the rules allow, then fix what buyers notice. Keep probate hearings at the Fontana courthouse in mind (California Courts Self-Help Guide).
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo · About Sidney
Questions
What do Fontana owners ask?
- Can a successor trustee sell right away?
- The trust document controls; many let trustees sell immediately (California Courts Self-Help Guide). Sidney Manzo, who has worked in real estate since 1990, works with trustees and their attorneys. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- What about a mortgage still on the home?
- Don't let it lapse; escrow retires the balance at closing. Sidney Manzo, who has worked in real estate since 1990, orders the payoff early in escrow. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- Do all heirs need to be in town?
- Remote signing and mobile notaries handle most of it. Sidney Manzo, in real estate since 1990, coordinates the local work for out-of-town heirs. Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- Does a reverse mortgage change the timeline?
- Contact the servicer quickly; repayment deadlines apply after the borrower's death. Sidney Manzo, who has worked in real estate since 1990, helps line up a sale within the servicer's deadline (California Courts Self-Help Guide). Talk with Sidney about your Fontana home
- How do I find the value of the Fontana house?
- Comparable sales, adjusted for condition. Sidney Manzo, who has worked in real estate since 1990, prepares a free opinion of price, not an appraisal. Get my free home review
Sources
Sources
- San Bernardino Superior Court: Probate Division (accessed October 13, 2026)
- San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk: Document Recording (accessed October 13, 2026)
- City of Fontana: Yard Sale (accessed October 13, 2026)
- City of Fontana: Historical Property Permit Information (accessed October 13, 2026)
- California Board of Equalization: Proposition 19 (value cap of factored base year value plus $1,044,586, transfers 2/16/2025-2/15/2027) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- IRS Publication 551, Basis of Assets (inherited property) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Probate Code sections 13151 and 13152 ($750,000 primary residence, deaths on or after April 1, 2025) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- California Courts Self-Help Guide: simple ways to transfer property (accessed October 13, 2026)
Your agent
Who reviews your home?
Sidney Manzo, Agent, CA DRE #01108914.
- In real estate since 1990
- 155+ closed sales
- RE/MAX Hall of Fame
- Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and C.A.R.
RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193
Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo.