Aside from the emotional aspects of divorce, things can get even more complicated when spouses own property together. The good news is that there are options for couples going through a divorce and jointly on a chester county mortgage company.
Chester County Mortgage Company: What Happens to a Mortgage During a Divorce
As Penn Street Mortgage, our team of qualified mortgage advisors in Chester can help you through this challenging situation. Options for divorcing couples depend on the following factors:
- How the home was titled and financed
- Whether one or both want to stay in the residence
- Amount of Equity in the home
- Ability to qualify for a refinance for the remaining spouse
How Chester County Mortgage Company titled and financed the home
When determining mortgage assets for divorcing couples, the first thing to consider is how a home is titled and financed. If the spouse staying in the home has the title and mortgage, no additional steps are needed. This is usually the simplest way to handle things. If the home has risen in value since purchasing, the departing spouse might ask for a portion of the home’s equity.
However, if the title and mortgage are in both spouses’ names, the mortgage needs to be refinanced. This can be a more complicated process and requires a new settlement deed. Luckily, your local chester county mortgage company can help.
Whether one or both want to stay in the residence
If there’s no agreement created, and both spouses want to remain, attorneys may have to get involved. Attorneys divide assets or determine how the house splits among the two parties. Both parties must sell the property and split the equity unless agreed upon otherwise.
If the two parties can reach an agreement and one spouse wants to stay in the house, they will simply follow the above steps.
The amount of equity in the home according to a Chester County Mortgage Company
Another thing considered when divorcing couples are splitting a house is the amount of equity in the home, if any. If there is equity in the home, the spouse staying in the home may have to pay a lump sum. This goes to the spouse leaving home equal to the value of the equity. In most cases, the amount due is based on a formula that follows the following:
The Formula
The market or appraised value of the home – selling costs (including realtor fees, transfer tax, potential repairs) – mortgage balances = total equity available to cash out
the calculation and determined split will be outlined in the Property Settlement Agreement. Usually, the equity split is 50/50 between spouses, but this could change based on the couple’s other assets or liabilities.
If a couple agrees to cash out on the home’s equity, they will have to refinance the mortgage to access that capital. There are two types of refinances — rate/term and cash-out refinancing.
- Rate/term refinance
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- any existing mortgages are paid off and a new mortgage loan is obtained. You have the option to roll closing costs into the loan financing, saving you cash at the closing table. However, in this type of refinancing, borrowers cannot receive additional cash. Your local chester county mortgage company can assist with this.
- Cash-out refinance
- In a cash-out refinance, all of the outstanding mortgage loans are paid off. And the borrower can pocket any additional cash earned from the home’s equity. While this type of refinancing gets you access to cash, the refinancing terms are costlier. This results in higher interest rates. It’s essential to work with a professional mortgage advisor during this process. They can ensure the settlement moves smoothly. If created correctly, the equity buyout is considered a lien to be paid at closing, creating a rate/term refinance allowing the borrower to get the best terms.
Ability to qualify for a refinance using a Chester County Mortgage Company
With an agreement reached by two parties, the spouse that will stay in the home must qualify to refinance the home. Multiple factors go into consideration when refinancing. And it’s often very similar to obtaining a mortgage for a new home. These are the key factors taken into account when qualifying for a mortgage:
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Good credit for a Chester County Mortgage Company
- While there are options for a range of credit scores, a top-tier credit applicant has a score of 740 or higher. Luckily, applicants above 620 can qualify for a conventional loan, and those above 580 can qualify for a government-backed loan. At Penn Street Mortgage, we can put a plan together to maximize credit scores while going through the divorce process to ensure you’re getting the best terms without hurting your score.
- This is also why it’s essential to make sure spouses are paying debts jointly, as missed payments can drastically affect credit scores.
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Income and Debt-to-income ratio
- When applying for a mortgage, your lender will review income sources to calculate how much money you bring in income versus the amount of debt service. The calculation used for qualifying is the debt-to-income ratio, often referred to as DTI.
- Calculate DTI by the amount of the total housing payment plus any debts reported on your credit report, divided by total monthly income. DTI usually caps at 41-50%, depending on the program.
- It’s important to note that child support or alimony income can be used as a source of income when applying for a mortgage, but there are strict requirements to show (3-year continuance) proof of 3-6 months of receipts. It may also be required to have a legal agreement or court order outlining these payments.
- When applying for a mortgage, your lender will review income sources to calculate how much money you bring in income versus the amount of debt service. The calculation used for qualifying is the debt-to-income ratio, often referred to as DTI.
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Divorce is a complicated and confusing time for many as they navigate their new normal. If you and your spouse co-own property, contact the experts at Penn Street Mortgage who can walk you through your options.
You can contact us here: https://pennstreetmortgage.com/contact/
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