refinance divorce buyout made practical

I need one clean payment, not drama. Sitting at the kitchen table, appraisal open on my phone, I ran numbers to keep the house and buy my ex out.

Plan fast, save long

• Check LTV and credit; sub-80% saves on PMI.
• Compare cash-out refinance divorce vs home equity divorce buyout for total interest paid.
• Price points, lender fees, and escrow; find the break-even months.
• Verify no prepayment penalty; future refis stay flexible.

What decides it

Rate minus term change, closing costs, and new DTI. If the refi frees equity to buy out spouse mortgage and cuts lifetime interest, I move; otherwise I wait for a better quote.

Next steps

1. Get three quotes for refinance to buy out spouse.
2. Ask about mortgage assumption after divorce if rates spike.
3. Lock when the monthly gap beats the buyout discount I negotiated, or keep shopping until it does...