During this difficult time, there are many questions you
might be asking, including "Can I keep my house - what are my
options?" Let's
break it down so you hopefully have one less thing to worry about!
If I am the one to receive the home in the settlement,
does it make sense? Take into consideration home size, utilities,
payments, family needs, etc. You will
now be entirely responsible for the house payment, upkeep and other related
bills. Your income will most likely be
decreasing, so it is imperative that you be aware of what your expenses will
be.
Will my spouse receive marital interest in the home? If so, the equity in the home needs to be
determined by an appraiser. The
appraised value - less the costs of selling (commissions and seller closing
costs) equals equity to be split between the parties. This is the amount you will be obligated to give to your
ex-spouse.
With the divorce, your spouse may put a marital lien on the
property or there may be a court ordered mandate for distribution of the
equity. This means that you have a
specified amount of time to obtain the funds needed to give the ex-spouse their
portion of the equity. This can be
done by cashing out the equity in the home with a new mortgage or selling the
home.
If you choose to stay in the home, you have two financing
options to pay your ex-spouse. You can
refinance your home to get cash out or you can obtain a new home equity
loan. This is where you will want the
advice of a trusted mortgage professional.
There are specific rules to qualifying for a new
mortgage. With good credit and income
you can qualify on your own (child support and alimony can be counted if
received for three months and likelihood of continuance for at least three
years.)
What if I am the one leaving the home? It is important to know that even though
the divorce decree awarded the home to your spouse, you are still obligated for
this debt in the eyes of the mortgage company!
Many people assume that by filing a quit claim deed removing
themselves, they are no longer responsible for the mortgage. A quit claim eliminates your name from the
title of the property, not the mortgage.
The benefit of a quit claim deed is that if the one on title passes
away, the property will go to their heirs rather than the ex-spouse.
How might it impact my credit - what can I do?
Unfortunately for many, divorce is a time of great financial hardship and
credit challenges. Because you are
obligated on the mortgage until it is paid in full, it is imperative that the
person responsible for the payment remains current. One possibility you have is to do a name delete assumption. If this is done as a none-qualifying
assumption, the spouse not receiving the property can have their name removed
from statements, but the financial obligation remains the same. This process can also be used if you are
staying in the property and changing back to your maiden name or a new married
name. There is a way to do a qualifying
name delete assumption that would relieve the non-occupying spouse from their
obligation, but you would have to check with your mortgage servicing company
for their procedure and fees.
What about if I want to go buy a home – am I still
obligated because I am on the other loan? Once you have your final
divorce decree, a lender will look at your income and credit to qualify you on
your own. Again, in most situations,
child support and alimony must have been received for three months and have at
least a three year likelihood of continuance for this income to be used for
qualifying. If the divorce decree
states that you are not obligated for the mortgage and the mortgage on the home
awarded to your ex-spouse has not been delinquent during the last 12 months,
you may be able to qualify without this obligation.
If you want to purchase a home prior to the divorce becoming
final, you may be allowed to do this, but be aware that since you are in a
community property state your spouse will have a marital
interest. Be very careful with this
situation! You will also have to
qualify with the full debt from the current home because there is not a final
divorce decree
Taking the time to talk with a mortgage lender before
your divorce or before you decide to start looking at a new home can help
eliminate much of the concerns and problems that surface in these
situations. Choosing to work with a
Trusted Advisor as a mortgage lender is crucial to your financial well being. Especially during this difficult time.