It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway…divorces are complicated! There are many questions that an experienced mortgage professional can help answer before you finalize your divorce.
For example:
Can one of us afford the family home or do we need to sell it?
Will I have enough income to qualify for a mortgage after the divorce?
Is my credit score good enough to qualify?
Will I have enough assets to refinance or purchase a new home?
Do I have the right job and/or job history for mortgage qualification?
What’s my home worth?
Will the family home appraise high enough to pull out equity to cover the cash I owe my spouse, or do I need to pull funds from another source?
What’s the consequence if my Ex-spouse keeps the home but can’t refinance it into their name after the divorce?
What’s the best loan for me post- divorce?
Attorneys are not mortgage experts and there are many nuances in the mortgage world that can totally derail the perfect divorce settlement. Rainbow Mortgage Inc. takes a very proactive role in assisting our attorney friends and their clients in making sure their post decree housing goals are met. We help you to (1) make realistic decisions about what is possible, (2) understand your loan options, and (3) structure a mortgage loan focusing on your post-divorce goals. We are happy to help you by participating in client-attorney meetings to discuss potential initial options, provide revised options (if necessary) prior to the final signing of the decree, provide an estimate of what your home is worth using our AVM tool (which is the same tool used by lenders to evaluate whether a value on an appraisal is reasonable) and at no cost to you or your attorney, review the decree prior to it being sent to the judge.
Here are a few examples of items in a divorce decree that have caused client issues in the past:
(1) The length of time that a person is to receive support payments does not meet lender guidelines to qualify for a mortgage loan. Different loans have different guidelines however, standard guidelines require that a borrower prove that they will receive the income for a minimum of three years following the funding of the mortgage loan. The dates listed in the decree must be carefully monitored and possibly adjusted if the divorce process goes on for an extended period before it’s finalized.
(2) Child care expenses are being shared and the decree lists a payment that is to be made monthly to a specified bank account- underwriters will sometimes consider this child support which can throw off a person’s monthly budget causing them to no longer qualify for a loan.
Divorces are complicated but the mortgage doesn’t have to be with the right professionals in your corner. We can offer you the help you need and why wouldn’t you take it? Contact us for a FREE consultation and decree review. We only get paid when you are happy with our service and your loan closes. It’s a Win-Win for you!