Close

See current mortgage rates on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace

I am getting divorced. Can someone please explain how buying out my spouse works?

Profile picture for elopez170
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009 - Wood Ridge
  • Be a Good Neighbor. Be respectful and on-topic. No spam or self-promotion! See our Good Neighbor Policy.

Answers (7)

Profile picture for njmortgageplanner
Hopefully you are seeking the advice of an attorney. From a mortgage stand point, a divorce buy out is considered a refinance in the mortgage world. You still have to qualify on your own for the new mortgage and your property needs to appraise as well. If you are going to borrow just enough to pay off your ex spouse and the current mortgage, then its generally considered a rate/term refinance. If you are qualified, you may be able to borrow additional funds for debt consolidation or for any purpose, this is considered a cash out refinance. Unforetunately, I have done many of these transactions and I would recommend you seek the advice of a mortgage planner with divorce buy out experience who can council you on making sure the new deen is drawn up properly and joint credit obligations are addressed so that you are not held liable in the future for any of your ex spouses' credit .
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 13 2009
Profile picture for funds2
Elopez,
Your best course of action is to be sure your LAWYER confers with a competent loan officer that knows how your scanario works in your particular state. In is critical for example in Texas that a divorce degree spell out details and terms of how a spouse deeds property and terms of buy out. Be wary of anyone giving legal advice including loan officers.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
Profile picture for Gary Kinberg

When your divorce becomes final, the party retaining the property needs to refinance and pay the 'lien' of the spouse. These buyouts used to considered rate and term and the divorce decree would be submitted as part of underwriting; I'm not sure if that is current policy.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
Profile picture for whipsawfx

In addition to what Bob said, you can simply make the house part of the divorce settlement, where you would get the house outright perhaps in lui of any alimony etc or you could agree to split any profits from the house when and if you sell the home. Your spouse would then just have to sign a quit claim deed to give up any claim on the home ... and best of all you save on the closing costs and prepaids :)

Remember, that if you buy out your spouse, according to IRC Section 1041, your cost basis remains the SAME, meaning that you pay taxes on any gains, and because your the sole owner your tax on any gains over and above $250k, whereas your joint obligation would be $500k so if your capital gains are in that ballpark, you would probably be best off selling the property.

Good Luck

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
Profile picture for Anna Montgomery

If you have legal papers that say you are to pay her share of the equity , you can do a rate&term refi. Not a cash out. This may help you get a better rate.
Can you buy her out and still afford the home? You should have a leader run the loan with your info to see if this can work.

  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
Profile picture for ohiosmitty
Like Bob said...

You will need some official court document, such as a divorce decree, instructing the amount of the buy out.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
Profile picture for Bob Lowery
Sorry to hear.

You would need to get a "cash out" refinance to pay her off. 

If the house appraises for 400K and you owe 200K, you would have to take a new mortgage for the current balance (200K) plus the amount needed to pay her off, so she will sign off on title.

Depending on your equity, you can include closing cost and prepaids in the loan, too. 

If you don't have equity to do this, then it becomes a little more challenging.
  Flag content
Close
Report a Problem

Please enter a valid email address.

Close
Content flagged

We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.

Close
We're Sorry
This service is temporarily unavailable. Please come back later and try again.
March 12 2009
 

Have a question? Ask it here.

What's this?
Close

By starting a discussion, you can expect more of an interactive, back-and-forth experience where the conversation can go in many different directions.

Or start a discussion
Related Questions
Profile picture for Clay Branch
Question91% LTV refi options
  • Latest answer by Clay Branch
  • February 22
Profile picture for Michael Hummel
QuestionI am getting divorced. Can someone please explain how buying out my spouse works?
  • Latest answer by Michael Hummel
  • March 13 2009
Related Articles
GuideJumbo Loan
GuidePrivate Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
GuideA QUICK ARM 101
GuideA QUICK ARM GLOSSARY
GuideLOANS (A 3-MINUTE ARM GLOSSARY)
Be A Good Neighbor

Zillow® Advice depends on each member to keep it a safe, fun, and positive place. If you see abuse, flag it. More on our Good Neighbor Policy