FINDING THE RI G THE RIGHT REAL GHT REALTOR®
Choosing the right listing agent is important. As obvious as this might seem, selecting the best real estate agent for you can be difficult. Most people personally know a real estate agent, but don’t jump headlong into working with friends who 1) may not be experienced at working with couples in the midst of divorce or 2) may not be impartial to both spouses. I've seen this mistake happen dozens of times, usually with adverse results. There are Realtors® like me who focus specifically on helping people who are going through a divorce. They are known as Real Estate Divorce Specialists. These agents have been thoroughly trained in legal and tax aspects of divorce. If the house is handled improperly during the divorce, the result could be that one or both spouses end up ineligible to qualify for a mortgage for many years. A real estate professional experienced in the divorce niche can provide clients with step-by-step guidance to protect themselves legally and financially. Over time I have taken the necessary steps to ensure I have a team of experts available to verify that everything is being done with your financial interests in mind. When in doubt, always ask your CPA or attorney for guidance navigating tax law. What defines a “good” real estate agent? That often depends on your particular circumstances. For someone selling a home during a divorce, it means finding someone with experience dealing with divorcing couples and who is an expert negotiator — not only between seller and buyer, but between seller and seller, who are not always on the same page or even on speaking terms with each other. As a real estate agent with a clinical psychology degree and years of psychotherapy experience with families and children, this has been a natural fit for me. I enjoy the work, even though it can be time consuming and challenging at times. Most Realtors® prefer not to take on listings with divorcing couples because the process is often more complex and
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