Ca Probate Problem

Throwaway account since I'm not sure what legal obligations I may or may not have. I have inherited a house in CA with a reverse mortgage. I'm told all property valued over a certain amount (which any home in CA is above) requires probate. There is no money in the estate to pay for probate and the backlog to open probate is so long I cannot sell the house at a profit. The interest accrues daily on the reverse mortgage. The deceased owner always told me not to bother anyway and just hand it over to the bank. But apparently probate is required for that as well. What happens if I just walk away and do nothing? If I probate and execute the will I will be out my own money.