Selling your house during divorce in Jacksonville can be extremely difficult. Emotions can be high in a divorce. The reality is, eventually emotions subside and we all become adults once again.
When it comes to divorce proceedings, the courts usually try to make the process happen as fast as possible. Keep the home in tact because if you have to sell, you want top dollar. Plus you don’t want your ex-spouse to claim you damaged the property and have your portion garnished for the momentarily emotionally gratifying deed.
Agreeing to Sell and Split
One of the common ways to split assets in a divorce, especially a house, is to put it on the market, sell it and split any equity equally among the two of you. This is common especially if there aren’t children involved. It simplifies things by eliminating a pending mortgage and if you can sell quickly, expedites the divorce process. That being said, if the housing market is slow, this could drag things on longer than desired.
Give us a call. Get an honest assessment for your Jacksonville home. Receive a cash offer for your home. Don’t waste time negotiating realtor fees or worry about closing costs. We take that out of the equation to keep net profits as high as possible.
Preparing the House for Sale in Jacksonville, FL
Do your best as a couple to clean up the house and make it presentable for sale. Remember you both have a stake in the successful sale. De-clutter and make it look like a happy family could live there. Continue to mow the grass. And if you really want to make it smooth, tackle that honey-do-list you have been avoiding.
She’ll scratch her head wondering why you were incapable of doing it before and you’ll know you just increased your sale value. Funny how you can win that way sometimes.
One Spouse Keeps The Pad
While this option is more common when children are involved (to keep them stable), it is a viable option in any divorce if parties agree. In this scenario, you decide to buy the house from your soon-to-be-ex. He or she will agree to quit their interest in the property by completing a quit claim deed. For their part, you agree to assume the mortgage and buy them out of their equity.
To buy your spouse out of the mortgage, you need to contact the lender and explain the divorce scenario and request an assumption of the loan. Lenders will more than likely underwrite you as an individual to make sure you can afford the house on your own. Make sure you document all income you have, including spousal support.
If the lender won’t let you assume the loan, you need to apply for a refinance. If interest rates are lower, this might not be a bad scenario anyway. Again, this is a loan application. Meet all income and debt obligations to qualify.