Table of Contents
- Mortgage Life After Separation and Divorce
- Tips on Separation and Divorce Mortgages
- Options for Handling the Mortgage
Mortgage Life After Separation and Divorce
Divorce and separation involve several obstacles. It’s a scenario you probably never imagined you’d be in, but there are now personal and financial repercussions to deal with. A separation and divorce mortgage can be one of the most difficult things to deal with, but it’s not the only thing. The house will be given to someone. Should you move? Are there any other ways for you to get what you want? To learn more about your options and how to avoid mistakes in separation and divorce mortgages, keep on reading.
Tips on Separation and Divorce Mortgages
Before considering all of your mortgage alternatives, you and your ex-partner must agree on your intended goals. We recommend that you spend some time doing the following:
- Discuss what each partner ultimately wants. Is one spouse more interested in keeping the house? Do you both wish to preserve it as a joint investment property? Discuss this before going on to discussions about the next steps. This will guarantee that you and your partner are on the same page.
- Determine the home’s worth with the help of a realtor or an appraiser. Finally, the worth of your property and your equity in it will decide the alternatives you have.
- Think about hiring legal counsel. A neutral third-party mediator may assist you both in reaching a fair verdict.
Options for Handling the Mortgage
After you’ve determined what both parties want and how much your house is worth, you may consider your choices. There are many options to consider:
Sell Your Home
The natural choice is to sell your house. You’re both undoubtedly eager to go on and live your separate lives after a separation or divorce. Selling your property frees you from another aspect that binds you to your ex-partner and gives you the funds to begin a new life.
You’ll sell the home, pay off the mortgage, and keep the proceeds for yourself.
If you want to battle for more than a 50/50 division of the home’s equity, get a divorce attorney as soon as feasible.
You’ll have to perform a short sale if the value of your house is less than the amount owed on it. A short sale means you will both walk away with debt, and your credit ratings will suffer as a result. In a short sale situation, you may want to explore if selling the house is the best option or whether you both want to wait for the housing market to recover.
Refinance
You may remortgage the house in the name of only one individual. If just one individual loves the house and wants to maintain it, refinancing is possible. Most experts estimate that refinancing mortgage costs between 3-6 percent of the loan amount.
This approach is likewise only viable if one member can manage the mortgage payments independently.
Refinancing is only available to a chosen few. It’s unusual for one individual to bear the expenses of divorce, refinancing fees, and a mortgage on their own. Only consider this option if you think you can afford it.
Keep the House
So, if selling and refinancing don’t seem like good options, it’s time to consider retaining the home.
Let One Partner Live In The House
You have the option of allowing one spouse to reside in the property and pay the mortgage while both names remain on the mortgage. If you’re waiting for the market to recover so, you can sell the property for a profit, and this might be a possibility.
Unfortunately, this approach has significant drawbacks. First and foremost, there is an element of danger for the spouse who walks out. Because their name is still on the mortgage, if their ex fails to make the monthly payments, they will be equally liable for the debt. Second, since many individuals do not want to live in a house full of memories from a dissolved relationship, this alternative may be impossible.
Investment Property
You have the option of keeping the property or renting it out. If you can collect a monthly rent payment that covers your mortgage, you will continue to create equity in your house and grow your net worth. You should keep in mind, however, that with this option:
- To deal with landlord issues, you’ll most likely need to visit your ex-spouse regularly.
- Because you have this mortgage in your name, you may be denied other loans or mortgages.
- Divorce and separation are inherently messy, no matter how you look at them. Your house is most likely the greatest investment you’ve made in your life, so you want to make the best option possible. Consider all of your alternatives and choose the best solution for both of you.