One of the biggest stressors that happens during divorce is figuring out what should happen to your house. If you and your spouse share a house, you might have a situation and the assets in place to allow someone to keep the home and take over the mortgage payments. But in a number of divorce situations, you’ll need to sell your home, split the profits, and then go about finding a new home that suits your needs.
Here are some things to consider as you’re searching for a new home post-divorce.
Consider your needs and your kids’ needs
The challenge you’ll have is figuring out how big of a house you need on what you can afford. That’s, of course, with one income rather than the two you likely had during your marriage. Be realistic about how much space you need, but also know that you may need to think a little outside the box. There might be neighborhoods you’re not initially considering that may have the house you need that fits your budget.
If you have kids, you’ll need to figure in the quality of the school districts where you’re looking, and you’ll also need to factor in all the logistics — including where your ex lives and what kind of commute that creates. At some point, you’ll need to let your ex know where you’re planning to move; depending on where it is, it might be a difficult conversation.
Also, note that the Texas Family Code has different parenting time stipulations for couples who live more than 100 miles apart, so review that before you consider a big move.
Rely on a realtor
Realtors are professionals who live and breathe real estate. You might feel very adept at finding properties online, or you might have found a house that looks perfect while driving around. A realtor can take your hunch about a house, fully research it, and might be able to find something even better for you.
Do your research, though: You want a realtor that is reliable, well-reviewed, and who understands you.
Keep your financial picture in mind
It’s possible that you’re not ready to buy right now, and that’s okay. If you need to rent for a year to take care of your debt, it might be wise to do that rather than stretch yourself thin. At the outset of your home buying process, you should consult with a financial advisor to fully understand your situation. That will also help inform you about setting a realistic budget, as well as what’s most pressing to address if you have more than one outstanding debt.
At the Law Office of Lisa A. Vance, we work with our clients to understand what they’re looking for in their divorce decrees. If your goal includes buying a new home after your divorce, we can factor that in when crafting your decree and getting that to the finish line.