When a parent moves into assisted living or a nursing home, the family house often has to be sold to help pay for care. To sell it while your parent is living, you need either your parent’s signature or a valid power of attorney that covers real estate, and you should talk with an elder law attorney first about Medicaid. After that, the main decisions are timing and what to do with a lifetime of belongings. ENC Home Solutions buys these houses as they are, contents and all.
ENC Home Solutions is a family-owned cash home buyer in Greenville, North Carolina, buying houses, land and mobile homes across Pitt County and Eastern North Carolina since 2020, with 150+ properties bought and counting.
Who can sign to sell the house?
- Your parent, if they are able to understand and sign
- An agent under a durable power of attorney that gives authority over real estate, recorded with the Register of Deeds when it is used to sell
- A court-appointed guardian, if there is no valid power of attorney and your parent can no longer make decisions
If no power of attorney is in place and your parent can still sign one, talk with an attorney soon. Guardianship takes longer and costs more.
Talk to an elder law attorney before you sell
Medicaid has rules about how a home and the money from selling it are treated, and selling at the wrong time or the wrong way can affect eligibility. A North Carolina elder law attorney can tell you whether to sell now, wait, or set things up differently. We are glad to wait on that advice.
How do we handle the belongings?
- Let your parent choose the things that matter most for their new room
- Give family members a set time to take keepsakes
- Check drawers, closets and books for papers, photos and cash
- Donate what you can, then leave the rest. When you sell to us, the cleanout is on us
Why families sell to us in this situation
Care costs start right away, and an empty house keeps costing money for taxes, insurance and upkeep. A cash sale with a closing date you pick lets you line the sale up with the move, skip repairs and showings, and spend your time with your parent instead of managing a listing. If the house is in great shape and time is not pressing, listing it may bring more, and we will tell you so. See Cash Offer or List With an Agent?.
How does selling to ENC Home Solutions work?
- Call us or fill out the form. Tell us the address and a little about the property.
- We walk the property. A member of our team sees it in person, usually within a few days and at a time that suits you.
- You get a written cash offer. You get it within 96 hours, with no obligation and no pressure.
- You choose the closing date. A local North Carolina closing attorney handles the title work and payoffs.
- Get paid at closing. No commissions, no repairs and no cleanout, and we cover the closing costs.
Get a written cash offer for your property. No obligation, no commissions, no repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my mom’s house with a power of attorney?
Usually yes, if it is a durable power of attorney that covers real estate. Your closing attorney will review it.
Will selling the house affect Medicaid?
It can. Talk with a North Carolina elder law attorney before you sign anything.
Do we have to empty the house first?
No. Take what you want and leave the rest.
Can we wait until Dad is settled before closing?
Yes. You choose the closing date.
What if my parent passes away before the sale?
The power of attorney ends at death, and the sale then goes through the estate. See When a Parent Dies.
Related pages: When a parent dies · Inherited property · Vacant property · Out-of-state owners
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ENC Home Solutions is not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws and local procedures change, and every situation is different, so we recommend talking with a North Carolina attorney before you act.
Written by Rachael T., Owner, ENC Home Solutions. Last updated October 27, 2026.