Tag: Housing Decisions

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Should You Keep the House After Divorce? A Smarter Way to Decide (Ep. 99)

Should You Keep the House After Divorce? A Smarter Way to Decide (Ep. 99)

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When divorce puts the future of your home into question, the biggest risk is making decisions before you fully understand your options.

In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner at Divorce Mortgage Solutions, to walk through how mortgage planning, settlement language, and income rules can shape what is actually possible when it comes to keeping a home. 

We talk through how assets, support payments, and loan strategies factor into qualification, especially for women navigating this transition later in life. We also address the emotional pull of the family home and how to balance that with long-term financial stability. 

Key takeaways:

  • Why divorce mortgage planning should happen before the settlement agreement is finalized
  • How settlement language can affect whether support, assets, or other funds count as qualifying income
  • What options may be available when someone wants to keep the house, including loan assumptions, FHA, and asset depletion strategies
  • Why emotions around the marital home can lead to costly decisions if long-term affordability is not considered
  • How women going through gray divorce can use retirement income, Social Security, and other assets to qualify more effectively
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Connect with Stacey Ellison: 

About our Guest: 

Stacey Ellison, CDLP®, is a Certified Divorce Lending Professional and Divorce Mortgage Planner with a deep understanding of the financial complexities that arise during and after divorce. With over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Stacey brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and compassionate guidance to individuals navigating one of life’s most challenging transitions. 

Since earning her CDLP® designation in 2020, Stacey has worked closely with family law attorneys, mediators, financial planners, and other divorce professionals to provide strategic mortgage guidance tailored to each client’s needs. Her role is to ensure that both parties in a divorce understand their options when it comes to home equity, mortgage qualification, and long-term housing goals. Whether helping a client determine if they can keep the marital home, qualify for a new mortgage, or explore equitable buyout solutions, Stacey provides clarity, structure, and confidence in the decision-making process. Her goal is to help divorcing homeowners make sound financial choices that support both their immediate needs and long-term stability.

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Navigating Life After Loss – Part 3: Planning Your First Year with Clarity and Care (Ep. 69)

Navigating Life After Loss – Part 3: Planning Your First Year with Clarity and Care (Ep. 69)

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The first year after losing a spouse brings overwhelming emotions alongside important decisions. Knowing what needs immediate attention versus what can wait can make the difference between added stress and thoughtful progress.

In Part 3 of our Navigating Life After Loss series, I share how to approach both urgent and long-term planning after the loss of a spouse. I explain which financial and lifestyle choices deserve early focus, how tax planning can protect your future, and why building a supportive foundation is essential. Together, we look at practical ways to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Key takeaways include:

  • The impact of pre-death planning, wills, estate plans, and beneficiary designations on easing stress after loss
  • The key financial updates in the first year, including executors, trustees, Social Security timing, and income sources
  • How tax filing status changes after a spouse’s passing, and strategies like Roth conversions and capital gains harvesting
  • Rebuilding a financial foundation through account consolidation, investment updates, and income planning
  • The importance of lifestyle and emotional choices, such as housing, community support, and designing the next chapter of life
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

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