Guest Post by Paige Michaelis, Realtor

Ken Caryl is an incredible neighborhood where I have been privileged to live for the past three years. I have always found it interesting the extent to which people go to stay in this neighborhood. Either making long commutes to keep their kids at Bradford K-8 or doing what is lovingly called the “Ken Caryl Shuffle” — where one moves “Up” to the North Ranch or the Valley or moves to an upgraded home in their same neighborhood. It is such a common thing, and believe me, I get it, Ken Caryl is in demand. But, it can be expensive, and during divorce, it can be difficult to hold onto one’s home.

If you are in the process of divorce or are considering, here are a few options that may be helpful in deciding how you can stay in Ken Caryl:

1. Take Out a Bridge Loan

While most traditional mortgage lenders require receipt of six months of maintenance payments before you can actually qualify for a mortgage, a bridge loan does not. If you have enough equity in your home, you may be able to take a bridge loan from a private lender to help you keep the home until you qualify for a traditional mortgage. Bridge loans are typically used for short periods of time and are loaned at higher interest rates. Many Realtors such as myself, have a number of reputable private lenders with whom they can connect you should you wish to explore this option.

2. Stay in the Home Until You Qualify for 6 Months of Maintenance.

If you are still in the negotiating process, it may be possible for you and your attorney to negotiate your staying in the home until you have received your full six months of maintenance, have established yourself in a job for a length of time, and can obtain a traditional mortgage on your own. This would be akin to what we call a “lease back” between the buyer (spouse 1) and the seller (spouse 2).

3. Downsize.

As you begin to consider your future and the realities of one income versus two, it becomes important to be truthful with yourself about what you can and cannot afford. Believe it or not, there are still some affordable options in Ken Caryl. As of the date of this blog, the market is softening a bit, and there are 15 attached/detached homes under $500,000 in Ken Caryl.

Yes, many are attached homes that have significant HOA fees, but I would urge you to think about these larger HOAs in a different light: Most of the time these HOAs cover ALL exterior maintenance and some utilities including such as the roof, common area Maintenance, siding, decks, patios, snow removal and sometimes water and garbage. What a relief it could be to not have to worry about those expenses nor these types of maintenance.

4. Rent and Regroup.

I have heard the saying, “Don’t be Sentimental, Be Sensible” and I know it is VERY hard to do in a divorce situation. (I have been there myself.) However, I think it is important to consider the stress and burden that keeping a home that you really cannot afford is going to bring to you AND your children (if you have them).

During my training in divorce real estate, we were told MANY stories about people who had kept the home only to have something MAJOR come up shortly thereafter and then they had to sell the home anyway; sometimes at a loss. If you want to stay in Ken Caryl, I definitely understand, and, it may make more sense to rent for a while to regroup or to find a community close to Ken Caryl that is more affordable (kids can choice into schools!).

If we can assist you with any of the above options, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our role is as an adjunct partner to your attorney or mediator so that we can collectively come up with the BEST solution for YOU. Reach out if we can be of assistance.

About Paige Michaelis
Paige is a resource and a guide through the entire real estate process.  She has worked with buyers, sellers and investors for over six years in various real estate capacities.  She prides herself in going above and beyond for her clients, thinking outside of the box and offering excellent communication, support and real estate expertise.  Paige has been divorced once before and she knows what feeling overwhelmed and anxious around “what to do with the home” looks and feels like.  She is here to support divorcing spouses with information and resources they need to make informed financial decisions for a secure long-term future. Contact Paige of Fathom Realty Colorado LLC at 720-550-8115 (office), 727-599-1365 (cell) or pmichaelis@fathomrealty.com.