Episode 58: Navigating Divorce and Real Estate With Expert Realtor Kristine Edens: What Happens to the House?
For many families, the marital home is the biggest asset, the most emotional asset, or both. It is where birthdays happened, routines were built, children grew up, and life unfolded. That is why real estate decisions during divorce can feel overwhelming. They are not just financial. They are deeply personal.
In this episode of Between Two Doors, I sat down with Realtor Kristine Edens to talk about what really happens when divorce and real estate collide. Kristine has specialized training in divorce-related real estate, and she shared practical insight for homeowners trying to make smart housing decisions during one of life’s toughest seasons.
Even though the national divorce rate is much lower than the old “50%” talking point, divorce is still common. CDC provisional data reported 672,502 divorces and a divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 population in the U.S. for 2023, which means this is still a very real issue for many homeowners and families.
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The House Is Not Just a House
One of the strongest points Kristine made is this: people often assume the house decision will be simple.
They think one spouse will stay, the other will leave, and life will continue. But in reality, the questions pile up quickly:
Who keeps the home?
Can that person truly afford it on one income?
What happens to the equity?
Does someone need to refinance?
What repairs need to be handled before a sale or buyout?
Would selling create a better financial reset?
Those questions matter because owning a home is about more than the mortgage payment. The CFPB reminds buyers and owners to factor in taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, flood insurance if applicable, and HOA costs when deciding what they can realistically afford.
The Emotional Side Can Drive Expensive Mistakes
Kristine spoke candidly about the emotions she sees most often: despair, helplessness, confusion, anger, anxiety, and depression.
That matters because emotional decisions often become expensive decisions.
In divorce-related real estate, a spouse may want to overprice the home, refuse reasonable repairs, delay decisions out of frustration, or push for an outcome that is not financially sustainable. Kristine’s role is not to be a counselor. Her role is to help people pause, breathe, and make decisions that protect their future.
That perspective is powerful. Sometimes the best help a professional can offer is not speed. It is steadiness.
What Usually Happens to the Marital Home?
There is no one-size-fits-all outcome, but Kristine shared several common paths:
The home is sold and the proceeds are divided
One spouse keeps the home and buys out the other
One spouse remains temporarily while longer-term plans are finalized
In highly contested situations, the court may step in more directly
From a practical standpoint, selling the home is often the cleanest option when neither spouse can afford to keep it or when conflict is too high to support co-ownership or a refinance strategy.
But when one spouse wants to stay, the key question becomes affordability. Can they qualify to refinance? Can they handle the payment, maintenance, and repairs after the divorce is final? Do they have the liquidity or assets needed to buy out the other spouse?
These are the kinds of questions that should be discussed early with a Realtor, lender, attorney, and when appropriate, a financial planner.
In Texas, Property Ownership Matters
Because this episode is especially relevant to Texas homeowners, it is important to understand a basic principle: Texas is a community property state, which generally means property acquired during the marriage is presumed to be community property unless it qualifies as separate property. Texas law also recognizes separate property such as assets owned before marriage or acquired by gift or inheritance.
That distinction matters when talking about the home. If a property was inherited or gifted to one spouse, the conversation may look very different than it would for a home purchased together during the marriage. This is one reason Kristine emphasized getting educated early rather than making assumptions.
Credit Often Becomes a Post-Divorce Hurdle
When the conversation shifts from “What do we do with this house?” to “Can I buy my next one?” credit often becomes the next challenge.
Kristine pointed to credit cards as one of the biggest post-divorce issues, and that lines up with how mortgage readiness often works in real life. FICO explains that “amounts owed” makes up a significant portion of scoring, and revolving utilization can meaningfully affect a borrower’s score. In general, lower utilization is better, and myFICO notes that keeping utilization below 10% can help build and maintain stronger FICO scores. myFICO also notes that lenders may use different FICO scores for different lending decisions, including mortgage lending.
That matters in divorce because when joint accounts are closed, balances shift, credit limits shrink, and the structure of a person’s credit profile can change quickly. Add in legal costs, moving costs, new living expenses, or support obligations, and it becomes easy to see why preparation matters.
One of the Smartest Things You Can Do: Slow Down
One of Kristine’s best pieces of advice was simple: do not rush.
Do not rush to punish.
Do not rush to list the home at an unrealistic price.
Do not rush into keeping a home you cannot afford.
Do not rush through decisions that will shape your financial future.
Instead, gather information. Look at the home honestly. Review debts honestly. Understand support income or obligations. Talk with professionals who can help you map out options clearly.
That kind of calm planning can make the difference between surviving the transition and being positioned to thrive after it.
The Right Help Matters
If you are going through a divorce, or even if you are just beginning to realize that divorce may be part of your future, this is not something you want to navigate alone.
A good Realtor can help you understand the market, pricing, repairs, timing, and sale options. A good lender can help you understand what you may qualify for, whether keeping the house is realistic, and what a fresh financial start could look like.
As Kristine shared in our conversation, there is hope. This season is painful, but it is temporary. And with the right team, you can make decisions that are thoughtful, levelheaded, and forward-looking.
Not legal or tax advice. Divorce, title, and property division decisions should be reviewed with a qualified family law attorney and tax professional.
How to reach Kristine
If you’re buying or selling in McKinney, Melissa, Princeton, or anywhere around North Texas, connect with Kristine here:
Website: https://www.kristinesellstexas.com
Email: kristine.edensrealtor@gmail.com
Phone: 940-597-7503
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristine_edens_realtor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdensRealtyGroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-edens-531b25108/
And if you need a lender to build a clear mortgage plan (whether you’re ready now or need a step-by-step path), I’m here for you.
About Between Two Doors
Between Two Doors is a podcast where I talk with Realtors about their journey, aiming to connect home buyers and sellers with agents on a more personal level. I ask "right brain" questions that go beyond transactions, focusing on the experiences, values, and passions that make these professionals great at what they do.
Listen to more episodes at: https://www.betweentwodoors.com
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