Guiding you forward
Keep the home, sell it, or start fresh somewhere new. We help you see your real options before you sign anything, so the house becomes one less thing to worry about.
A separation changes everything at once. Where you live, what you can afford, who the kids are with on Tuesdays. For most couples the home is the biggest thing they own together, and the biggest question mark.
There are usually more options than people are told. And the earlier a mortgage plan is in place, the easier every other decision gets.
You want to stay, and you need to know if you can carry it on your own. We look at whether the spousal buyout program fits, how support you receive can count toward qualifying, and whether keeping your current mortgage or starting a new one makes more sense.
You’re starting over, and you want a home of your own again. We look at when you’re released from the old mortgage, how your share of the equity becomes your down payment, and how to build credit in your own name if it all sat in joint accounts.
The separation agreement decides what a lender will do. If the buyout figure is vague, a debt is missing, or the closing date is unrealistic, the financing can stall at the worst possible moment.
A short call before the agreement is final can save weeks. We’ll tell you what the lender needs to see, and you can pass it to your lawyer or mediator.
Some people live apart for months or years with nothing signed. One spouse holds the money, pays just enough to keep things quiet, and won’t agree to anything. Without funds for a lawyer, the limbo goes on. And banks won’t lend to someone they know is separated until there’s a signed agreement, because the other spouse can still make a claim against the home.
If you own a home with equity, there may be a way out. A short-term private mortgage can clear pressing debts and pay for the legal help you need to reach a real agreement. It costs more than a bank mortgage, so it’s a bridge, not a destination, and we plan the way off it from day one.
Separation is full of unknowns. The mortgage doesn’t have to be one of them.
When you know before mediation that you should qualify to keep the house, you negotiate from facts instead of fear. You know what buyout figure works, what support needs to look like, and how long the process takes. That one answer takes a lot of the stress out of everything else.
We’ll tell you if keeping the house doesn’t make sense. Holding on to a home you can barely carry on one income can cost you years of stress and savings.
Sometimes selling, splitting what’s left, and each starting fresh is the stronger move. If that’s where the numbers point, we’ll say so, and help you both with what comes next. Our job is the right plan, not the biggest mortgage.
It’s common for both spouses to need a mortgage after a separation. We can help each of you. Each file is completely separate and private. Nothing about one of you is ever shared with the other.
Separating at 55 or 65 brings different questions. Retirement is closer, incomes may be changing, and there’s less time to rebuild. Pensions and retirement income can often be used to qualify, and the right plan can keep the home within reach. Read more about separating later in life.
We’ve been in mortgage lending since 1988 and independent brokers since 1999. You deal with Mike directly, from the first call to closing, and we work with more than 50 lenders, including the ones that understand separation files.
We don’t stop at closing either. A separation usually means a new plan for one income. We set that plan, send you a monthly HomeBrew report, review your file every quarter, and keep watching for ways to get you to Mortgage Freedom Day sooner.
Often, yes. The spouse staying needs to qualify for the new mortgage on their own income, with support and co-signers counted where they apply. A short call tells you early whether it should be possible.
No. When the payment would stretch one income too far, or both spouses need their equity to start again, selling can be the stronger move. We compare both paths and tell you which one comes out ahead.
Banks and the buyout program need a signed agreement, because until then your ex can still claim against the home. It isn’t the only option, though. If you own a home with equity, a short-term private mortgage can fund legal help and clear debts while you work toward an agreement. Talk to your lawyer first.
Yes. Lenders often ask for it on future mortgages, even many years after a divorce, to confirm support and that the old property is settled. Keep a scanned copy and a paper copy somewhere safe.
It lets the spouse keeping the home borrow up to 95% of its value to buy out the other spouse, instead of the usual 80% limit on a refinance. It’s insured, and it needs a signed separation agreement.
For the buyout program, yes. Talk to a broker before it’s final, though. What the agreement says decides what the lender will approve.
It often can, once it’s in a signed agreement or court order and you can show it’s being paid. Lenders differ on how much payment history they want.
It’s possible. Until you’re released, the old mortgage counts against what you can borrow, so your agreement should say when you’ll be released.
No. In BC, a transfer between spouses or former spouses under a written separation agreement or a Family Law Act court order is exempt. Your lawyer or notary claims the exemption.
Usually, yes. Talk to us before ordering one. Lenders are particular about how appraisals are ordered, and one made out for your separation may not be usable for the mortgage.
The agreement is usually the slowest part. Once it’s signed, we’ll give you a realistic timeline for your file, because every lender and every file moves a little differently.
Yes. In BC, couples who lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least two years are generally treated as spouses when property is divided. A signed agreement is still needed.
Yes. It’s common for both spouses to need a mortgage after a separation. Each file is completely separate and private.
We're excited to share our very own custom mortgage app with you! We think you'll really enjoy having it on your phone to crunch numbers anytime you like. Curious about how buying a home for $50,000 more affects your payments? Or what happens when you put down an extra $100,000 (if your Great Aunt helps out)? You can easily create and save scenarios, and this will help you understand how small changes can make a big difference in your overall budget. Click here to download it!
Whether you're keeping the house, moving out, or still working out the agreement, let's run the real numbers together before anything gets signed.
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