One of the biggest assets in a marriage is often the family home. Deciding whether to keep or sell it can be a major point of contention. As a divorce financial consultant serving primarily women, I’ve seen this issue arise many times before. In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of keeping or selling your home during a divorce. By the end, you should have a better understanding of which option works best for you and your financial future. If you need additional help please contact us
Emotional
PROs of Keeping the House/ CONs of Selling the House
There are many emotional reasons why you may want to keep your family home after a divorce.
It can be a place of comfort and safety, where you and your children feel stable.
Keeping your home can provide a sense of continuity and help maintain a sense of normalcy during a difficult time.
If you keep the house you do not have to go through the emotional work of moving.
CONs of Keeping the House/PROs of Selling the House
Additionally, there are many emotional reasons to sell the house.While the idea of keeping your home and memories may seem great at first, you may find that living in the same house where you shared the highs and the lows of your marriage can be problematic as well.
It may impede emotional healing and make it harder to move on with your life.
Keeping your house can also be emotionally taxing, especially if the house holds negative memories from your marriage.
A potential Con of keeping the house is needing a sense of privacy, which can be difficult to preserve in the staying in the same home and neighborhood.
Financial
CONs of Keeping the House
Keeping the house may require you to use up all of your savings or even refinance to get the equity in the home, leaving you in a vulnerable position. What happens when unexpected expenses occur or you need to switch career paths? How will this major financial commitment affect your life in a few years?
Keeping your home can also be expensive. You will have to deal with property taxes, homeowners' insurance, maintenance and repairs, and mortgage payments solely. Putting a sudden strain on these finances may mean you endure difficulties with costs over the progression of the ownership of the house. Gathering up and budgeting for all the expenses, including average upkeep cost is a must.
Keeping the house could also leave you cash poor if all your assets are tied up in the house which may require many expenses.
It can be a Con to keep the house and a Pro to sell it if the housing market is strong, selling your house during an upmarket may give you more of a profit to put towards a less expensive home if available.
PROs of Keeping the House/ CONs of Selling the House
From a financial standpoint, keeping your home could prove beneficial if its value appreciates over time. Or if rents are high as they have been in some areas after COVID, it may be less expensive to stay in your current home.
Speaking of rent, a Pro of keeping the house could also be a potential source of income, either from renting out space or creating a home business.
A Con of Selling your house may trigger capital gains taxes, which could be expensive depending on the value of your home.
It can be a Pro to keep the house and a Con to sell it if the housing market is weak, selling your house may mean losing out on potential profits or having to sell at a loss.
Starting Over
PROs of Keeping the House / CONs of Selling the House
Selling your home will mean having to start over which can be a Pro and a Con.
Having to do sorting and packing can be a real Con for many but potentially worth it if it makes more sense to sell. This is incur the cost of moving.
It may also disrupt your children’s lives as they will have to move to a new location and potentially switch schools.
And/or you may have to find a new community and lifestyle.
CONs of Keeping the House/PROs of Selling the House
PROs of Selling
It can be a clean break from your ex.
Selling your house may provide you with a fresh start after the divorce.
It can free you from the emotional attachments of the marriage and enable you to move on.
It can help you start over from a financial standpoint.
selling your home can also provide you with a significant amount of cash that can be used to purchase a new home, pay off debts or invest in your future.
A fresh start in a new community may lead to a whole new set of friends and opportunities.
Deciding whether to keep or sell your family home during a divorce can be challenging. Before making any decisions, it’s essential to consider all of the pros and cons of each option. I strongly recommend that you consult with me or another divorce financial consultant or a financial advisor before making any big financial decisions. We can help you navigate the complex financial implications and provide you with objective advice on your financial future. Remember, divorce can be difficult, but it’s not the end of your financial well-being. By making informed financial decisions, you can thrive and create a better life for yourself and your family.
If you need help figuring out your divorce possible outcomes and working on how it can be a good thing for you to contact us
Are you getting closer to your settlement or having post divorce questions? Contact us at and check out www.financial-sherpa.com
Comments