Coldwell Banker
The Bruen Team
Ryan J. Bruen, CPA Distinguished Representation

Legacy & Probate

Distinguished
Estate Agency.

Expert navigation for executors and heirs. Define the standard for settling real estate assets with CPA-led analysis and 70 years of community heritage.

Ryan J. Bruen, CPA
The CPA Difference

Strategic Guidance
For Complex Estates.

Selling an inherited property requires more than a simple listing. It involves the careful coordination of probate timelines, "step-up" basis valuations, and navigating the New Jersey Inheritance Tax system.

As both a Realtor and a CPA, I act as a high-level consultant for executors. I work seamlessly with your estate attorney to establish date-of-death fair market values and ensure your fiduciary duties are met with absolute precision and data transparency.

Estate Residence

The Estate Settlement Roadmap

01

Legal Authority

Before any action can be taken, the Executor must be officially sworn in by the Morris County Surrogate. This establishes the legal framework for the asset's transition.

02

Property Stabilization

We guide heirs through maintaining utilities and securing vacant home insurance policies to protect the asset during the probate period.

03

Fiduciary Valuation

We provide a rigorous Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to establish a baseline for step-up basis and potential distribution strategies.

Fiduciary Advantage

We manage the physical transition of the property from legacy to market-ready with absolute neutral advocacy, ensuring all heirs are kept informed through standardized reporting.

Schedule Estate Briefing

Executor Checklist

  • Secure Probate Court Documents
  • Perform 3-Year Tax Basis Audit
  • Catalog Tangible Personal Assets
  • Review Title & Liens

Equity Forensics

Estate Proceeds Analysis

$
$
$

Prep costs include estate sale logistics and maintenance-to-market cleaning.

Estimated Liquidity

Market Value $0
Realtor & Legal Fees -$0
NJ Realty Transfer Fee -$0
Est. Estate Net Equity $0

Informational estimate only. Not tax advice. Consult with legal counsel regarding specific step-up basis implications.

Estate Intelligence FAQ

What is "Step-Up in Basis"?

When an heir inherits a property, the tax "basis" is typically adjusted to the fair market value at the time of the owner's death. This often eliminates capital gains tax on decades of appreciation, but requires a formal valuation to document properly for the IRS.

How do you manage physical property contents?

Through our Concierge program, we manage the entire "clean-out" process—from coordinating estate sales and valuable antique appraisals to final debris removal—ensuring the home is in showroom condition for listing.

Initiate
Fiduciary Review

The Bruen Team has been the #1 sales team in Morristown for 8 consecutive years. We are prepared to manage your estate transition with absolute fiduciary care and CPA-led precision.

(973) 294-8887

ryan@bruenrealestate.com

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