Every individual has unique characteristics and preferences. People pursue different professions and manage their finances according to their own priorities. What people truly hope to achieve in a divorce can also be vastly different from one case to the next.
Typically, the main priorities involved ensuring future financial stability and a fair outcome. People set goals based on those desires, and then they may fight to achieve those goals during the divorce process. It is quite common for those preparing for divorce in Pennsylvania to want to keep their home at the end of the process.
Some people view retaining the marital home as the biggest goal in the property division process. Before fighting for the marital home, people may need to think about if fighting for the marital home is worth their time.
Staying in the home may not be the best outcome
There are two types of reasons why people may regret fighting for the marital home in a Pennsylvania divorce. The first has to do with emotional consequences. It can be very difficult to move on in life when constantly surrounded by the memories of a prior marriage. Spouses may end up selling the house even if they keep it because staying there isn’t pleasant.
Other times, the main issues people face when retaining the marital home are financial. They overextend themselves during the divorce and then struggle to cover expenses afterward. Staying in the marital home typically means buying a spouse out of the property.
Spouses often have to refinance and withdraw equity to compensate the party leaving the home. Such arrangements can significantly increase monthly mortgage costs and make it more difficult for the spouse staying in the home to balance their budget. Their budget and credit score may not allow for such arrangements.
There are also the costs of services and maintenance to consider. People either have to perform the tasks around the house that their spouse once managed or hire people to provide those services. They can exhaust themselves by trying to handle everything on their own or may end up going into debt hiring professionals for home-related services.
Making an informed decision about whether to stay in the marital home or not may require extensive review while strategizing for the property division process. Those who begin divorce negotiations with a focus on achievable goals may ultimately benefit more than those who do not.