Divorce brings a long list of financial decisions. Most people are focused on dividing assets, determining support, and figuring out what will happen to the family home. While those are certainly important conversations, there's another financial asset that often...

Many people enter a divorce wanting to "win." But what if winning isn't about beating your ex at all? Why So Many People Want to "Win" One of the things I hear from divorcing homeowners isn't usually about the mortgage. It's about the fight. People say things like, "I...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

One of the most common assumptions in divorce is that if the court orders the marital home to be sold, the problem is solved. The house gets listed. The house sells. The mortgage gets paid off. Everyone moves on. But what happens when the home doesn't sell?...

When a divorcing couple owns a home together, many people assume that refinancing is automatically required if one spouse is going to keep the property. In reality, one of the simplest real estate scenarios in divorce occurs when both spouses are on title, but only...

Today was a perfect example of why this matters. I had one client approved for a release of liability (loan assumption)… and another denied. And I’ll be honest— the denial wasn’t surprising. But that’s exactly the point. Assumable Doesn’t Mean Approved There’s a big...

I understand the hesitation. You’re going through a divorce, and you’re looking at a 2.75% interest rate thinking: “Why would we ever give this up?” And in an amicable situation, it can feel like the easiest solution is: One person stays in the home Both names stay on...

If you’re going through a divorce, it’s easy to think: “I just need to get through this… I’ll figure everything else out later.” Especially when it comes to homeownership. But this is where a lot of people make a costly mistake. Because what you decide during the...

There’s a lot to admire about an amicable divorce. You’re choosing respect. You’re choosing cooperation. You’re choosing what’s best for your family—especially your kids. And I love that. But here’s what I’m starting to see more and more: Just because your divorce is...

One of the most overlooked financial rules in divorce involves Social Security benefits. If you were married for at least 10 years, you may be eligible to collect Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s work record — even after the divorce. Many people don’t realize...

If you are the one paying support after divorce, the tax rules are not what they used to be. Since 2018, maintenance (alimony) is no longer tax-deductible for the person paying it. That means the income you use to pay support is fully taxable to you, even though that...

Now that tax season is here, I’ve been having more conversations with people who are looking back at decisions they made during their divorce and wondering if they should have structured things differently. One situation that comes up a lot involves using a home...

VA loans are one of the most powerful home-buying benefits available to veterans and active-duty service members. The ability to purchase a home with 100% financing is an incredible advantage, especially for buyers who don’t want to drain savings for a down payment...

This isn’t the most common question I get directly. But it is one of the most common requests I see in divorce-related social media groups: “Can anyone recommend a good divorce attorney?” Usually followed by something like: “Someone who can deal with a difficult or...

Collaborative divorce is often described as the best way to get divorced — and in many cases, I agree. But it’s also one of the most misunderstood divorce processes, especially when it comes to cost, expectations, and commitment. Before choosing a collaborative...

If you’re going through a divorce and struggling to qualify for a mortgage, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing anything wrong. One of the most emotionally charged topics I navigate with divorcing clients, especially those in their 40s and 50s, is the idea of...