Divorce: You've Decided to Sell the Family Home, Now What?

Feeling overwhelmed about where you'll go after your home sells in a divorce? Losing sleep over what comes next? Here are three steps that can put a real plan in place.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, a certified real estate divorce specialist, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

First, talk with your agent about your net proceeds from the sale, how they'll be split with your ex-spouse, and when you'll actually have access to your share. Second, once you know roughly what your share will be, decide whether you'll buy again or rent for a while, and build a budget around your new income situation, alimony or child support included, if applicable.

Third, once you have that budget, if you're planning to buy again, talk to a lender about a pre-approval contingent on the sale of the marital home. You'll need income and asset documentation, along with a copy of your Divorce Decree if alimony or child support factor into qualifying, lenders typically require that income to have been received for at least six months already and to continue for a minimum of three years from closing.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. These three steps take a lot of the guesswork out of your next chapter. Feel free to call, text, or email if you want to talk through your specific situation.