Go boldly in direction of your dreams and be a DIVA!!!

When faced with a divorce it seems that the world is spinning with critical decisions and one of the most important ones is what to do with your home.  Who will live in the house?  Who will make the payments?  Do you liquidate the asset and move on to a new residence?  How will the decisions about the house affect the rest of your life -- and your kid's life?

My advice is a four-step approach to developing some good answers to those questions.  I have arranged these points in a format that will make it easy to remember.  Be a D-I-V-A and it will be much easier to get through these important decisions.

Before you get offended thinking I am advising you to be a "drama-queen", know that is not the DIVA in my definition.  According to Wikipedia, the term DIVA "was originally used to describe a woman of rare, outstanding talents.  It derives from the Italian word 'diva' meaning 'goddess' or "fine lady'"

D on't feel you have to make all the decisions right away.  I know you may be getting pressure from a lot of sources.  But I can't remember a client that regretted taking time to carefully consider all the options before moving forward.

I  dentify every factor that will affect your options.  Make a list in writing.  You have enough going on in your head right now.  Write down the questions and answers as they occur to you.  This list will help you make better decisions --AND- if you have to argue your position, you have the data gathered to support the outcome you prefer.

V alue is in your home.  In fact, it may be the largest asset that has come into the marriage.  You need to know what your home is worth in today's market.  You also need to know the trends -- what it might be worth six months or a year from now.  I believe an experienced real estate agent is your best source for that information.  Many feel that an appraiser is the best at evaluating the true value of the home.  And based on data only, that may be correct.  But a real estate agent that is actively working with buyers every day can often have a better sense of how the market will respond to your home's value.  Please remember: all agents are not created equal.  If you don't know someone you can trust, please contact me.  I am not only talking about just personal trust, like keeping your business confidential.  I am talking about someone who is really competent and will be your advocate. 

Action is the next step.  Once you have done your due diligence in the three steps above, do not get frozen into "paralysis of analysis".  It can be your enemy #1.  Go boldly in direction of your dreams and be a DIVA!!!

Bio

With more than 30 years in the real estate business, Kathi Frank has experienced many changes in the industry.  Her current specialty is working with clients from all over the world who see a move to the Houston area in their future.  She also has connections with agents across the country and can refer anyone to  the perfect agent outside her geographic area.  As an author in the book "PROFIT FROM TECHNOLOGY  -- A Guide for Today's Real Estate Agent",  Kathi offers coaching & training to other agents how to adapt to the changes taking place in the marketplace. 

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