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Divorce and Real Estate

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Divorce. Splitting costs, paying for updates, splitting profits, lawyers...

Trying to sell your home while Going through a divorce can be a complicated process.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of difficult decisions to make while you’re going through a divorce. I know, I’ve done it too. It’s a sensitive topic and it’s best to work with a realtor who factually understands the complexities of selling your home during a divorce, and making sure there’s fairness for all parties involved.

As a realtor, it is my obligation to get you the best qualified offer on your home and understand your needs so we can make this as smooth a transaction as possible for both of you. Though this may not be a time of celebration, I have talked this through with many divorcing couples and have been able to help them in an amicable manner. In fact, it’s my humble opinion that when going through a situation like this, there has never been a more important time to hire a full-time, very professional agent.

I am a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist. If you are looking for a Realtor to help you navigate through this transition I ready to help you get through this difficult time and make it not be such a hard one. yes even when going through a divorce.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

FOUR Key Questions

FOUR Key Questions Before Selling During a Divorce

When you decide to get a divorce, there are a lot of issues that need to be dealt with that can be downright overwhelming and emotionally draining, I know having gone through one myself.

One of the most emotionally charged decisions that must be made involves deciding the fate of the family home. And if you are looking for a Realtor to help you navigate through this transition, I’m a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist.

The family home is more than four walls and a roof. For most, it’s the place where you’ve built a life with your spouse and often raised a family. There are typically many memories, and a lot of security, wrapped up in the family home. And when it comes time to decide who gets the house in the settlement or if it is going to be sold, it is understandable that many people find it difficult to make these decisions. But making an emotional decision can have consequences. If you are early in the divorce process and trying to decide what to do with the family home, the sooner you decide the better.

While having these discussions, here are four key questions you will need to ask.

Number one. Will the property be sold, and if so, when?

Number two. Which spouse will stay in the home until the property is sold?

Number three. Who will pay for the mortgage, maintenance costs, and other expenses associated with the home until it’s sold?

And four. If one spouse wants to keep the home as part of the settlement, what arrangements will be made to do so such as refinancing or buying the other spouse out.

If you have agreed to sell the family home, now is the time to find a reputable realtor to represent you and your interests. And can best guide you and your spouse through the process of selling the home while going through a divorce.

Hi, I’m Dawna Brown, with Homes by Dawna and eXp Realty, and remember, I live and work here and I’m here to help, yes even when going through a divorce. And I’m a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist here to help you.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

Getting Divorced - What Are Your Options?

Divorce is not easy.

There are so many things to think about and so many decisions to make. You have to decide what you’re going to do, where you are going to live, what about your kids, what school they will attend...your head is spinning and you don’t know where to start.

Hi, I’m Krista Mashore with Homes by Krista and eXp Realty and while I can’t help you with all these problems, I can help you figure out the best way to move forward in your home.

If you are looking for a Realtor to help you navigate through this transition when moving forward with your divorce, I am a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist who's been there, done that. I understand where you're coming from.

You will need to decide what to do with your home.

Will you sell it?

Will one of you be keeping it?

These are things you will be deciding in your divorce agreement. If you choose to sell, you should consider putting your home on the market as soon as possible - even before you are divorced. This will give you the maximum amount of time to allow the house to be marketed and shown to the right buyers, and it will be less likely that you will accept an offer just because you need to.

My digital marketing strategy can expose your home to the masses and can help take some stress out a very stressful situation. According to the National Association of Realtors 98% of people start their future homes online, so I will make sure they are seeing yours.

Homes also tend to perform better when staged! Whether or not you are staying in the home, we can work with you to make sure we highlight the best parts of the home.

Whatever you have to do in order to be able to move on, I will be there beside you, doing what I do best, so you can concentrate on what you need to do.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

Steps to Selling During A Divorce

Divorce is never an easy process, especially when there are assets involved. One of the largest assets divorcing couples need to talk about is the family home.

Not everyone chooses to sell the home, but if you are considering it, it never hurts to get a head start on things.

I am a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist and my team can help you through this difficult time.

Here are a few things you should think about:

Consider keeping the home furnished or staged if someone is going to move out, or even if someone is going to continue to live. Staged homes sell quicker and sell for more, but staging can be pricey, that’s why partial staging is include it in our real estate fees.

We specialize in helping divorcing couples sell their homes and we can help you navigate all the additional complexities that come with selling while divorcing, including helping to try and keep the costs down with the lawyers by involving them in only what you deem necessary.

Consult with your attorney about the finances and divorce, but let your agent handle the sale and only involve the attorneys on things that are necessary. Sending an unnecessary email can cost you hundreds of dollars.

Also, We can help you stay calm. Emotions run high during situations like this and those emotions can hurt the process more than help. We can make sure that everything is fair between all parties and get you to closing table as smoothly and as quickly as possible.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

Credit & Divorce - Two Part Series

Part 1

Worried about protecting your credit while going through a divorce? Possibly overwhelmed with the process? Are you feeling a little anxious because you don’t know where to start with protecting your credit and you don’t want it ruined because of your divorce? Here are 3 things you should know to protect your credit.

I am a Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialist and I’ve helped individuals over the years get their credit in order after a divorce. But here’s the thing, many of the reasons that their credit needed work was because they didn’t take a few precautionary steps DURING their divorce.

Yes, that’s right, the time to protect your credit is during your divorce NOT after the dust has settled.

Here are 3 major things that you need to know or do about your credit to protect it during your divorce:

First thing you should know about credit is that Creditors do not honor divorce decrees. This is an important fact people think that because their divorce decree states that their ex is responsible for a specific account, if your ex-spouse makes a late payment on that account, it will still reflect on YOUR credit if you are still on the account.

Even if your decree states that your ex is responsible, the lender/creditor on that account didn’t agree to it. Your lender will still expect both of you to pay back the money you borrowed, plus interest, as you initially agreed and will report the account history appropriately.

Second thing you should know is that Joint accounts will stay on your credit report until they are paid off or closed. When going through a divorce, you will want to understand the difference between being an account holder and being an authorized user.

If the account you have opened is joint, then both you and your spouse are financially responsible for the account.

If you are an authorized user, you have the ability to use the account, but are not financially obligated to pay it, and lastly, if you are the primary account holder, you are responsible for the account.

Understanding this will help you in the future regardless of what your divorce decree states. It is in your best interest to obtain a copy of your credit reports and contact every creditor that is appearing on your reports. Find out if the account is joint, you are the account holder or if you are an authorized user. Close joint credit cards and remove your ex as an authorized user from any credit cards which are open in your name only.

The third thing you should do to protect your credit is to keep communications with your creditors. Make sure that all of the creditors that are reporting to the 3 credit bureaus have your updated address and you are getting monthly statements. You will want to have a discussion with them about removing an ex if they are an authorized user.

Freeze your credit reports with all three credit reporting agencies to prevent a vindictive ex-spouse from opening fraudulent accounts in your name.. Understanding these 3 items will give you a better opportunity to save your credit from an exceedingly difficult situation.

If you need to discuss these items further, please feel free to call, text, or email me.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

You've Decided to Sell, Now what?

Part 2

Are you a little overwhelmed thinking about where you’re going to go after your home sells in the divorce? Are you losing sleep because you’re not sure what to do?

Here are 3 steps to follow to help put your plan in place.

I am a CertifiedReal Estate Divorce Specialist and I’ve helped people who have gone through their divorce and are starting the next chapter of their lives. This can be a little overwhelming, but I’ve found that by putting a plan in place while you are selling your marital home, you can take the guesswork on what your next step is.

First, now that you’ve decided to sell your home, you will want to have a discussion with your realtor about your seller net proceeds from the sale. How will the proceeds be split with your ex-spouse? Understand when the proceeds will be available to you.

Second, once you know approximately what your share of the proceeds will be, you will want to decide if you want to buy another home or will you want to rent for a period after the sale.

Regardless of what choice you make, you will want to put a budget together with your new income situation. This may or may not include alimony or child support.

And Last, once you have a budget, if you decide to purchase another home, contact a lender to get pre-approved on your next purchase subject or contingent to the sale of the marital home. You will have to provide income documentation and asset information and they will request a copy of your Divorce Decree. The decree will state the terms of your alimony and child support and will be required if you are using these to qualify for your next purchase.

In many cases, you will need to be receiving your child support and alimony for a min of 6 months before a lender can use this income and it must continue for a minimum of 3 years from closing. Because lending guidelines are constantly changing, this is another reason to discuss your personal situation with a lender to obtain your pre approval.

By taking these 3 steps, you will be able to put a plan in place for the next chapter of your life after selling your marital home. If you need to discuss these items further, please feel free to call, text, or email me.

And please I am not an attorney or tax consultant, I’m just giving some free advice so be sure to speak to the appropriate parties during this difficult time.

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