Start with your home's current market value and subtract the remaining mortgage balance, the result is your net equity. Divide that equity by your agreed split (usually 50/50, but not always) to find the buyout amount. For example, if your home is worth $500,000 with a $300,000 mortgage, your equity is $200,000 and a 50/50 buyout means one spouse pays the other $100,000.

The tough part is understanding your options for the payout ie selling, refinancing and more.

Use our divorce buyout calculator above to run your own numbers instantly.

A fair buyout price starts with an accurate home valuation, either a professional appraisal or a comparative market analysis from a real estate agent.

From there, both spouses should agree on what debts are subtracted (mortgage, home equity loans, estimated closing costs if selling were the alternative) before calculating each person's share.

"Fair" doesn't always mean equal, if one spouse contributed separate property funds to the purchase, or one spouse is taking on the full mortgage liability, adjustments are common.

A Divorce Real Estate Expert can help you stress-test your number before you sign anything.

It depends. Refinancing is a standard way to complete a divorce home buyout.

Refinancing accomplishes two things at once: it provides the cash to pay your spouse their equity share, and it removes their name from the mortgage so they're no longer legally responsible for the debt.

If you can't qualify for refinancing on your own income, alternatives include a delayed buyout, a cash payment from other marital assets, or agreeing to sell the home instead.

Our Certified Divorce Lending Professionals can tell you exactly what you'd qualify for before you commit to keeping the home.

Disagreeing on home value is one of the most common sticking points in a divorce buyout and one of the most solvable. The cleanest solution is a licensed independent appraisal, which both spouses agree to honor in advance.

If one party disputes the appraisal, some couples order a second appraisal and split the difference.

A mediator or Divorce Real Estate Expert can help you reach an agreed valuation without going to court, which is faster and far less expensive than having a judge decide.

If a buyout isn't financially feasible right now, you have several options.

The most common is selling the home and splitting the proceeds, which avoids the need for refinancing entirely.

Some couples agree to a deferred buyout, co-owning the home for a set period (often until the youngest child finishes school) before selling or one spouse refinancing.

You can also offset the buyout by trading other marital assets giving up a larger share of a retirement account or investment portfolio in exchange for keeping the home.

Our team can help you model which option makes the most financial sense for your situation.

A divorce buyout is finalized in two steps: the financial agreement and the legal transfer. The buyout terms, the amount, payment method, and timeline, are written into your Marital Settlement Agreement, which the court approves as part of your divorce decree.

Once that's signed, the buying spouse refinances the mortgage into their name only, and a quitclaim deed is filed to transfer sole ownership on the title. Both steps must happen, a settlement agreement without the deed transfer and refinance leaves your ex legally tied to the property even after divorce.

Hello Divorce's specialists can walk you through both steps so nothing falls through the cracks.