How long do we have to sell my parents' house after they die?
There's no legal deadline to sell. The clocks that do exist are quieter, and they're practical ones.
Minnesota generally wants probate opened within three years of death — that's about starting the legal process, not selling the house. The real pressure is carrying cost: every month the home sits, the estate pays taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep, and an empty house needs a vacancy policy most households don't know to ask about. Most estates I've worked with list within six to twelve months — not because anyone forced them to, but because that's when the family was ready and the math started to matter. Both reasons are allowed to count. Your attorney can confirm the probate timing; I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice.
Take the time you need — and know what the waiting costs, so it's a choice and not a drift. I'll put that number on one page for you. Just ask.
I wrote this answer, and I stand behind it. I'm Chris Deutsch, a Minneapolis Realtor (MN #20382264). Twenty-five years of walking these neighborhoods, checking basements, and sitting across kitchen tables from people making exactly this call. I re-check every answer and date it — this one was last verified .
If your situation is more specific than the market, that's the one worth talking through. Email me at chris@lakesarearealty.com.