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You Don’t Have to Keep the House to Need a Divorce Mortgage Planner
One of the most common things I hear from people going through a divorce is: "I don't want to keep the house, so I don't need to talk to you." I understand why people think that. Most people assume a Divorce Mortgage Planner is only involved when someone wants to keep...
Your Attorney Is an Expert in Law. I’m an Expert in Mortgage Lending. You Need Both.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see during a divorce is the belief that one professional should have all the answers. The reality is, divorce is one of the most complex financial and legal events a person will ever experience. It touches nearly every aspect of...
Just Because They Handled the Finances Doesn’t Mean They Understand Mortgages
One of the biggest misconceptions I see during a divorce is this: The spouse who handled the finances is automatically the mortgage expert. Sometimes that's true. But many times, it isn't. When couples have been married for years—or even decades—it's common for one...
Gray Divorce and the Mortgage Process: “I’ve Never Handled the Finances. What Do I Do Now?”
One of the hardest conversations I have with clients doesn't start with a mortgage. It starts with a confession. "I've never handled our finances." Sometimes it's followed by: "My spouse always paid the bills." "I've never applied for a mortgage on my own." "I don't...
The 3% Mortgage Trap: When Keeping the Lowest Interest Rate Costs More
One of the biggest mistakes I see in divorce is focusing on a single number instead of the entire financial picture. Recently, I worked with a client who was determined to keep her current mortgage. And on the surface, it made perfect sense. Her interest rate was in...
Why Does My Credit Report Still Show a Balance I Already Paid Off?
One of the biggest misconceptions borrowers have about credit is believing that lenders can see their credit profile in real time. We can't. In fact, when a mortgage lender pulls your credit report, we're only seeing what your creditors most recently reported to the...
Divorce Mortgage Planner vs. Traditional Lender: What’s the Difference?
One of the most common things I hear from divorcing homeowners is: "I've already talked to a lender." My response is usually: "That's great. But what question did you ask them?" Because when divorce is involved, the question isn't always whether someone can qualify...
Staying on a Mortgage After Divorce? Protect Yourself While You Wait
In many divorces, one spouse needs additional time to refinance a mortgage, complete a loan assumption, or remove the other spouse from a joint debt. When that happens, I often hear the spouse leaving the debt ask: "What happens if they stop making the payments?" or...
Does Waiting for a Divorce Refinance Prevent You from Buying a Home?
One of the most common mistakes I see in divorce negotiations involves the timeline for refinancing or removing a spouse from the mortgage. Many people believe that if their name remains on the marital mortgage after divorce, they won't be able to qualify to buy...
The Divorce Problem Nobody Is Talking About: When There Isn’t Enough Equity for a Clean Exit
For years, one of the biggest questions in divorce was: Who gets the house? Today, I'm seeing a different problem emerge. The question is no longer just who keeps the home. The question is: What happens when there isn't enough equity for a clean exit? As housing...