Can I Keep My House After Divorce?
What it actually takes to keep the home before you dive into the numbers below.
How to Use the Divorce Buyout Calculator
A quick walkthrough so you can fill this out with confidence.
Property & Loan Details
New to the calculator? Start here.
In about 5 minutes you can compare selling, a Standard Refinance, a Texas Owelty Refinance, and a Custom Buyout — see estimated monthly payments for each, and download a professional PDF to share with your attorney or mediator. Don't worry if you don't know every number; many fields already include planning estimates you can adjust later.
These details determine your available equity and form the foundation of each scenario.
Selecting an address personalizes your PDF report. This does not affect any calculations.
Property Taxes and Insurance are automatically estimated from your home value above (currently 2.2% for taxes, 1% for insurance) — the "Estimated" tag next to each field shows the rate being used. Type your own amount into either field to override the estimate with your actual tax bill or insurance premium; use "Reset to Estimate" to go back to the automatic calculation.
This information helps estimate whether a refinance may fit within typical lending guidelines.
Refinance Assumptions
Planning estimate only. Actual refinance rates vary based on loan program, credit score, loan-to-value ratio, market conditions, and lender pricing.
This estimate includes lender expenses, title and settlement costs, and any prepaid escrow items required when establishing a new mortgage. While prepaid taxes and insurance are not lender fees, they still use part of the available loan proceeds at closing. Because the refinance loan has a maximum loan-to-value limit, these required funds reduce the amount of financing available for a buyout unless they are paid from the borrower's own funds.
Texas title insurance premium is calculated automatically for each scenario using the Texas Department of Insurance's official promulgated rate schedule (effective March 1, 2026) — not an editable assumption, since it's a state-regulated rate, not an estimate.
Compare Your Options
Unlike basic online calculators, this tool accounts for many of the same factors considered during the mortgage planning process — including program-specific mortgage insurance, escrow vs. non-escrow payment structures, Texas-specific title costs, and debt-to-income qualification.
For each refinance scenario below, the numbers build in order: how much equity is available, what buyout amount is owed to the other spouse at a standard 50/50 split, what loan amount that buyout actually requires, and what the resulting monthly payment would be. These are estimates to support your conversation with an attorney, mediator, or lender — not a recommendation of which amount to choose.
Sell the Home
Ends shared ownership through an outright sale
Assumes the home sells at current value and net proceeds are split evenly. Actual sale price and split terms may differ.
Thinking Selling Might Be the Right Move?
Amber Gifford, Broker at The Gifford Group, and our team can help you understand your home's value and what selling would actually look like — primarily Greater Houston, with reach across Texas. See what you'd walk away with using our Seller Net Sheet, or schedule a consultation to talk it through.
Standard Refinance
Conservative Refinance — up to 80% LTV, typically avoids mortgage insurance
Mortgage insurance below is based on this resulting LTV — the actual new loan divided by home value — not the 80%/95% caps shown above, which are qualification limits only.
This is a general planning estimate based on a typical housing-cost guideline and your other monthly debts. It is not a lender's income requirement — actual qualification depends on your loan program, credit, assets, and full underwriting review.
Assumes a standard 30-year refinance limited to 80% loan-to-value, along with a standard 50/50 equity split. This reflects a conservative refinance scenario and also aligns with Texas cash-out refinance limits if the existing mortgage is already classified as a Texas cash-out loan. The Maximum Available Mortgage is shown for planning purposes only and is not the loan amount used to calculate the payment above.
Owelty Refinance
Texas Owelty Refinance — Access More Equity (up to 95% LTV)
An Owelty refinance is a Texas divorce financing option that may allow one spouse to access equity to buy out the other's interest while keeping the home.
Mortgage insurance below is based on this resulting LTV — the actual new loan divided by home value — not the 80%/95% caps shown above, which are qualification limits only.
▲ $248 more per month than Standard Refinance
This is a general planning estimate based on a typical housing-cost guideline and your other monthly debts. It is not a lender's income requirement — actual qualification depends on your loan program, credit, assets, and full underwriting review.
Assumes a 30-year fixed Owelty refinance up to 95% loan-to-value and a standard 50/50 equity split. Availability depends on lender and state law, and typically requires PMI above 80% LTV. The Maximum Available Mortgage is shown for reference only — it is not the loan amount used to calculate the payment above. An Owelty lien is a Texas-specific divorce financing tool that may allow more flexibility than a standard refinance — but it isn't automatically the better choice, and full lender qualification is still required. Unlike a standard refinance, an eligible Texas Owelty refinance may allow financing above 80% loan-to-value because it is designed to divide marital equity rather than extract cash. Eligibility depends on lender guidelines, proper legal documentation, and full borrower qualification.
Custom Buyout Amount
Your negotiated number, run through real financing math
▼ $108 less per month than Standard Refinance
This is a general planning estimate based on a typical housing-cost guideline and your other monthly debts. It is not a lender's income requirement — actual qualification depends on your loan program, credit, assets, and full underwriting review.
Calculates the loan needed to pay this exact buyout amount, assuming a 30-year fixed refinance. This is an estimate only — it does not suggest what the buyout amount should be.
Which Option Fits Your Goal?
This isn't a recommendation — it simply summarizes what the numbers below already show.
Custom Buyout isn't included in this comparison yet — it's still showing the default amount. Enter your negotiated buyout amount in Option 4 below to include it.
Key Figures at a Glance
A quick reference based on your current inputs — not a suggested course of action
Custom Buyout not yet included — still at its default amount.
Get Your Personalized Buyout Analysis
Professional PDF — ready to share with your attorney or mediator.
Planning Beyond the Numbers?
Looking for more guidance? Download our free Divorce Home Guide covering important topics such as budgeting, keeping or selling the home, questions to ask before hiring a divorce attorney, and practical checklists to help you stay organized during the divorce process.
Want a Divorce Real Estate & Lending Specialist to Review Your Options With You?
Every divorce situation is different. This planning tool is designed to help you understand the financial impact of different buyout options, but it cannot account for every factor in your divorce agreement, mortgage qualification, or financial goals.
During a complimentary consultation, we'll review your results together and help you understand:
- • Whether keeping the home makes sense — or whether selling is the better move
- • Your refinancing options if you keep the home
- • How a standard refinance compares to an Owelty refinance
- • Questions to discuss with your attorney or mediator
- • Your next steps either way
Additional Divorce Resources
Looking for more information? These free resources can help you better understand your options when deciding whether to keep or sell your home during divorce.
What Happens to the House in a Divorce?
Watch this video explaining the four most common options for handling a home during divorce and how to determine which option may be best for your situation.
Owelty Buyout: 7 Steps Every Divorcing Homeowner Needs
A free, step-by-step checklist covering the most common and most costly mistakes in a Texas Owelty buyout, from unrealistic buyout numbers to Decree language that can block lender approval. Use it alongside this calculator to help avoid delays and closing surprises.
A Resource for the Journey Beyond the Numbers
Understanding the numbers is important, but divorce also involves emotions, relationships, and rebuilding what comes next. Divorce decisions are never just financial — they touch families, homes, and futures. We wrote this resource to provide encouragement, perspective, and practical guidance during one of life's most difficult transitions.
Meet Your Divorce Real Estate & Lending Specialist
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Scotty Gifford
Texas REALTOR® & Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS #2357310) | TREC Lic. #0740987
Scotty Gifford is a Texas REALTOR® and licensed Mortgage Loan Originator specializing in divorce-related real estate decisions, including home buyouts, Owelty refinances, and equity division strategies.
Scotty and Amber has personally helped guide more than 400 divorcing couples through the financial side of keeping, refinancing, or selling their home, and this calculator grew directly out of that experience, built to answer the questions couples kept asking again and again.
By combining real estate expertise with mortgage lending knowledge, Scotty helps homeowners, attorneys, and mediators understand the financial impact of keeping, refinancing, or selling a home.
Through The Gifford Group and Gifford Home Loans, Scotty provides education and guidance so families can make informed decisions during one of life's biggest transitions.
Mortgage Lending Provided By
Gifford Home Loans | Powered by Supreme Lending
Scotty Gifford is a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator. NMLS #2357310. Mortgage loans are originated and funded through Supreme Lending (Everett Financial, Inc. dba Supreme Lending), NMLS #2129. Gifford Home Loans is a marketing brand used for informational and promotional purposes only and is not a separate mortgage lender or financial institution.
Learn more about mortgage options: GiffordHomeLoans.comTexas Divorce Home Buyout FAQ
Common questions about divorce home buyouts, refinancing, and equity division in Texas.
Still Have Questions?
Every divorce is unique, and no online calculator can replace personalized guidance. If you'd like help understanding your results, reviewing your refinance options, or discussing whether keeping or selling the home makes the most financial sense, I'm happy to help.
Whether you're just beginning the divorce process or already have an agreement in place, we can walk through your options together with no pressure and no obligation.
The Gifford Group specializes in Texas divorce real estate solutions, including home buyouts, Owelty refinances, and equity division strategies.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If your goal is to keep the home, the next step is determining whether you qualify for the financing needed to complete the buyout.
You can begin a secure mortgage application through Supreme Lending at any time. Completing an application allows us to review your income, assets, credit, and mortgage options so we can determine which refinance solutions may be available for your situation.
Applying does not obligate you to move forward with a loan.
Mortgage Financing by
Scotty Gifford
Licensed Mortgage Loan Originator
NMLS #2357310
Mortgage loans are originated and funded through Supreme Lending (Everett Financial, Inc. dba Supreme Lending), NMLS #2129.
Gifford Home Loans is the mortgage brand used by Scotty Gifford and operates under Supreme Lending's mortgage license.
Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.
Built for Homeowners, Trusted by Attorneys & Mediators
This tool helps your clients:
- • Get a realistic estimate of potential buyout amounts before negotiations start
- • Compare selling the home versus keeping it through a refinance
- • Explore Texas Owelty refinance scenarios alongside standard options
- • Generate a professional PDF summary to bring into a discussion or mediation
- • Get a clearer financial picture before ever starting a loan application
Attorneys, mediators, financial planners, and mortgage professionals use this with clients to ground buyout conversations in real numbers, rather than rough guesses — and to give clients something concrete to review before a formal loan application.
Want to send a co-branded report to your own clients? Add your contact information below — it appears alongside The Gifford Group's attribution on every PDF, not in place of it.
Add Your Attorney to the Report (Optional)
Adds your contact info as the referring professional, alongside The Gifford Group's attribution — it doesn't replace it.
About These Estimates
- • All figures on this page are estimates only, based on the numbers you enter.
- • This planning tool does not recommend a buyout amount — it shows the financial outcome of amounts you or your advisors choose to explore.
- • Refinance scenarios assume a 30-year fixed-rate loan and are subject to individual lender underwriting, credit, and income qualification.
- • PMI, closing costs, and income-required figures are rough industry-standard approximations, not lender quotes.
- • This tool is designed for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a licensed attorney, CPA, and mortgage professional before making decisions.