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TRY OUR HOME EQUITY BUYOUT CALCULATOR

Who gets the house in divorce? How do you split the value?

Do you need to sell your marital home? What does buyout mean in terms of your home and divorce? What happens to your mortgage in divorce? Do you want to keep your kids in their home?

We can answer most of your questions with our Home Equity Buyout Calculator, and can provide multiple options to split your equity in your divorce. 

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Find Out Options for Splitting the Value and Mortgage of your home with our Home Equity Buyout Calculator

Use our software-driven, expert-led calculator.

Dividing the value in your home can be extremely confusing and emotional, especially when a family wants to keep children in the home where they've created memories.

We've worked with Certified Divorce Lending Professionals to show you the best options for splitting your equity. 

The Home Equity Buyout Calculator estimates your potential equity to divide with your spouse.

Once we have your information, we'll invite you to a free call to discuss your custom plan with a Certified Divorce Lending Professional from Certified Divorce Lending Pros.

How It Works

It’s the smart, modern way to understand your options and split your home value.

Enter your information into the Home Equity Buyout Calculator

Answer a few questions and we'll generate a "Home Equity Buyout Analysis" to help you discuss your divorce settlement.

Schedule a free call with a Certified Divorce Lending Professional

After providing information about your property, schedule a free call with a Certified Divorce Lending Professional to better understand your options.

Receive your customized "Home Equity Buyout Analysis"

There are several options to divide your equity in a divorce. Our analysis will break them all down for you, including the pros and cons of each option.

Home Equity Buyout Calculator 

Enter your information below to find out about your nine options to split your home value in divorce.

Does one spouse want to keep the home?

Your home might hold a lot of memories neither you nor your spouse (and perhaps your children) wants to part with. You may want to find a way to keep the home while accessing the equity/cash to buy the other out without having to sell the home. We've found some great options.

#1 - Sale Leaseback

Convert your home equity into cash while keeping the family dynamic in place. Sell your home to our partner, then rent and stay in the home with the option to repurchase later.

Keep the option to repurchase

Remain as a renter until you are ready to move. At any point, you can choose to repurchase the home for the agreed-upon buyout cost.

Avoid lender restrictions

Our Sale Leaseback partner is not a lender. That means you won’t face credit score or debt-to-income (DTI) requirements.

Retain appreciation

You maintain the rights to any home value appreciation over the agreed-upon buyout cost, minus agent commission if you direct us to sell at a later date.

#2 - Home Equity Investment (HEI)

A smart way to access home equity. An HEI gives you cash in exchange for a portion of your home’s future value.

Simple approval

Home equity investments have a simple approval process.

No interest or monthly payments

An HEI is not a loan. There’s no interest rate uncertainty and no monthly payments.

Fewer restrictions

HEIs are available to property owners of all ages – unlike reverse mortgages.

Imperfect credit is okay

You don’t need perfect credit to qualify.

#3 - Cash Out Refinance

Keep your original loan with a higher balance, and use the cash for whatever you like.

Get cash quickly with your existing mortgage

Cash-out refinancing allows you to turn equity into cash by refinancing your mortgage.

May not get access to all your equity

While you can’t cash out all of your equity, it does give you access to more cash fast.

Your loan terms may change

The terms of your refinanced mortgage might be significantly different than your original loan, including a different rate or loan period.

#4 - Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

HELOC allows you to borrow and repay funds on an as-needed basis during a specified period of time. After that, you pay back the amount you borrowed in installments. 

Access your home's equity as cash

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a variable-rate line of credit that allows you to access your home’s equity as cash for any purpose.

HELOCs are revolving lines of credit

They are similar to credit cards in that you can borrow what you need, repay it, and then borrow again.

#5 - Home Equity Loan

Home equity loans give the borrower a lump sum upfront. In return, they must make fixed payments over the life of the loan. These loans have fixed interest rates.

You can't borrow more

While getting a fixed lump sum upfront can be good to help you budget, it also means you can't get more money in an emergency. You'd have to get a second loan.

Interest rates are fixed

You will know exactly how much you need to pay per month, but if you want to have lower rates, you will have to refinance.

Your home is your collateral

Home Equity Loans have lower interest rates than other types of loans, but the downside is if you need to default on your loan, the bank can take your house.

#6 - Personal Loan

Personal loans can be a fast and efficient way to get the funds you need in order to buy your spouse out of the home; however, can have short- and long-term ramifications.

Quickly receive a lump sum with no collateral

Unlike a home equity loan, where the home acts as collateral, personal loans tend to have no collateral requirement and have lower interest rates than credit cards. However, they can create significant financial and credit consequences if you cannot repay.

Increases your debt load and monthly expenses

Taking on a personal loan can have serious ramifications for your overall credit rating, as well as increase your monthly expenses. Be sure to speak with a professional before going down this path – you'll want to make sure you can pay the loan off over time while also living the life you want to live.

#7 - Credit Cards

Credit cards are a smart way to access funds while also building credit if used appropriately.

Build your credit with funds more secure than cash

Credit cards are secure and have a lot of benefits in the event you lose the card and or your card has a security breach. Considering it is also credit and not hard cash, it's easier for partners to refund.

High cost of borrowing

Credit cards historically have high annual percentage interest rates which is the amount your credit card partner charges on your balance. For example, if you maintain a balance of $10,000 in credit with a 25% APR you will pay $2,500 per year to maintain that balance.

Reward points 

Credit cards are another great way to access funds quickly if you are able to manage the required monthly payments to make sure having the card does not affect your credit.

#8 - Sell Your Home

Maybe your family is okay with selling your home in order to access the equity to split the funds. If you choose this path, you and your ex should both do your research to make sure you are getting the best value with the least amount of cost.

Things to consider:

Agent Commissions Appraisal Value Closing Costs
Utilities Mortgage Payoff Capital Gains Tax
Property Tax Transfer Tax Moving Cost
Home Inspection Cost Home Improvements Staging

 

 

#9 - Reverse Mortgage

If you are 62 years or older then a reverse mortgage could be something to consider, since you get access to funds immediately without a bill up front.

Keep your home, with no taxes and options for your heirs

A reverse mortgage allows you to continue building memories in your house while accessing equity, with protection from the government. It also gives your heirs options with the home in the event you pass away.

Complicated process and status post completion

Reverse mortgages have ongoing requirements you'll need to adhere to if you continue to use the funds. If your status changes, complications can arise.

Be cautious

Reverse mortgages are great if you are able to follow all the guidelines in order to maintain the funding.

Disclaimer: Your financial situation is unique, and the products and services we mention may not be suitable for your circumstances. The use of our tools should be part of a broader decision-making process and not relied upon solely for making financial decisions related to your home or divorce transition. Our platform is designed to assist you in making informed decisions during the life transition of divorce, but we assume no responsibility for the results or consequences arising directly or indirectly from any action or inaction based on our services, information, or tools, including but not limited to the HomeSplit calculator and any attachments/PDF downloads. 

While we strive to keep details up-to-date, including prices and special offers of Hello Divorce products and those of our partners, they are subject to change without prior notice. We are not a creditor, broker, real estate agent or realtor, nor do we directly offer residential loans or mortgages. Our service helps you understand and potentially connect with partners that may extend credit, but we do not guarantee loan approval, the provision of a loan, or that the loan terms presented on our site will match those offered to you. All loan decisions and terms are solely determined by the providers. Submitting a connection request through our site is not a loan application and will not result in an actual offer.