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Making a Home Sale Easier During Divorce

Divorce is a word that most people don t like, but that everybody knows.  One thing that is frequently a result of a divorce is the sale of a family home.  In a traditional litigated divorce, the home sale can get pretty messy and ugly.  The divorcing parties often fight about price, how to show, who will occupy the residence, etc.  The outcome many times is not one that maximizes value for the divorcing parties.

Enter a term new to me until today:  collaborative divorce, which is a part of collaborative family law.  Collaborative law is different than litigation in that the parties don t go to court.  The collaborative law process tries to help both sides remain safe and more in control.  The collaborative process most often involves a team of neutral parties who work with both sides as guides. 

During a collaborative divorce, each party can meet with a team that often involves neutral lawyers, communication specialists and financial advisors.  In the beginning of the process, both parties and their attorneys agree that neither party will take an issue to court.  Both parties also agree to share information freely, whether it is requested or not.  This gets people away from the traditional discovery process.  The collaborative divorce process also seeks to protect the interests of all who are affected.  This includes both spouses and the children, if there are any.

Collaborative divorce focuses on trying to see that both parties treat each other with mutual respect.  This not only benefits both spouses, but also the children, who see their parents treating each other with decency rather than fighting.  Another important thing about a collaborative divorce is that keeping it out of court means that the information about the divorce remains private.

When it comes to the sale of the family home, collaborative divorce is much better than a litigated divorce in my opinion.  As a REALTOR , dealing with a couple in the middle of a litigated divorce can be terribly difficult.  The lack of agreement on price, upkeep of the house and yard, showing the house and the rest of the process can be extremely stressful.  Many REALTORS will refuse to take a listing in a litigated divorce situation because it is so stressful.

Selling a home when doing a collaborative divorce is easier on everyone.  The husband and wife have already agreed to cooperate.  They have the advice of neutral professionals to help them understand the process and agree on terms.  These professionals will try to help find a REALTOR who will price and market the home according to the state of the market.  In a litigated divorce, some homes are often priced from an emotional point of view rather than seeing what the market is saying. 

During a collaborative divorce, the decisions are made by both husband and wife with the help and guidance of neutral parties.  It isn t one against the other.  The neutral professionals make sure both parties are fully aware of details, options and consequences.  They make sure that the husband and wife make mutual decisions that benefit both appropriately.  This can help make the sale of a family home, which is hugely emotional anyway, much easier than if the issue was taken to court.

Sam Chapman is a REALTOR licensed in the state of Texas who has lived and worked in the Austin area for 20 years. Sam and his team can help with purchases of waterfront homes, downtown condos, land and homes in all parts of Austin.<p>For information about <a href=" http://www.austinrealestateguy.com/" target=_"blank">Austin Real Estate</a>, contact Sam. Visit the <a href="http://www.collablawtexas.com/ target=_"blank">Collaborative Law Institute of Texas</a>.</p>

Condos Or Homes?
Anyone considering the purchase of real estate in the Las Vegas area has a big choice to make. That choice is whether to go with a condo or a single family detached home. This is a big choice in this area due to the prevalence of an astounding number of condo developments in and around the Las Vegas Strip and the downtown area. There are some other considerations that should be made in the choosing of one or the other style of housing. Perhaps the first one that should be considered is the location as this is an intrinsic property of a home. There is likely to be more diversity in location when looking at single family homes as a good percentage of condos are in major urban areas. This is a trend that has been taken to new heights with the high-rise condo boom. Condos offer great convenience however the lack of additional property such as a yard can be a drawback. If this is not something that concerns you then a condo would be a great choice. There is also the idea that many condos will not allow pets or will restrict the number or size of animals that are allowed.

There is definitely more labor required with a single family home but there is also value that comes with a yard and property. Another additional asset for the single family home is that they are naturally quieter than a condo. Condos are communal living and all there is between you and your neighbors (on both sides and above and below) is a wall. New condos are being made with excellent noise suppression but if your neighbor is having a party then you will likely know all about it. With a decent amount of area between yourself and the neighbors in a home there is much more room for noise to die down. There is also the ability to custom tailor a home to your exact specifications. Realistically the only limits are your imagination and of course, your wallet. With a condo you can do this to an extent but only within your walls.

These are things that any home buyer should consider before making a final choice. Buying a home is a huge decision and it will affect your financial status for years to come and will also affect almost every other aspect of your life. A home is a base of operations and a haven from the rigors of the outside world, one must choose carefully and be sure that decision is correct. Try to think about your lifestyle and how it will be affected by the home purchase and choose the home that best suits that lifestyle. Best of luck!

Melanie Speed is the broker/owner of EHome Realty a locally owned and operated specialist in Las Vegas real estate. Ehome Realty is dedicated to providing elite and professional service and personal attention to all clients interested in Las Vegas Condos. For more information contact us today or visit us online at www.ehomelv.com