Divorce and the House: Should You Sell or Stay? With Katie Lambert

The house holds memories. But can it hold your financial future after divorce? In the first episode of Rooted in Money, host Kristina Heckel, CDFA®️, CFEI®️, CADP™️, welcomes Katie Halle Lambert of Team EvoAZ at eXp Realty to explore one of divorce's most emotional decisions: what happens to the marital home? Katie brings about 20 years of Arizona real estate experience, a background in lending and a personal reason for doing this work. After going through her own divorce early in her real estate career, she wanted to help other homeowners avoid the mistakes she could recognize in hindsight. Keeping the house can feel like keeping something familiar when everything else is changing. But wanting to stay and being able to afford it are two different conversations. Katie introduces the house spouse and the out spouse, while Kristina raises the expenses that can get overlooked when emotions lead the decision. The mortgage is only part of the picture. What changes when your real estate agent has specialized divorce training? Katie shares how she approaches communication when two spouses are no longer on the same page, and why a typical group email or conference call may not be the right approach. She also explains the importance of working alongside attorneys and financial professionals while staying within her real estate role. Kristina brings the financial planning perspective, including an example of someone determined to keep the home until the budget revealed a $900 monthly shortfall. What happens when the numbers tell a different story from the one you hoped to hear? Before deciding what to keep, it helps to understand what comes with it. Press play for a thoughtful conversation about the home, the emotions and the questions worth asking before your next chapter begins. About the guest Katie Lambert is an Associate Broker with Team EvoAZ at eXp Realty and a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist Divorce™️. She has helped more than 1,200 homeowners buy and sell homes. Her work focuses on the real estate side of divorce, including value, equity, market conditions, mortgage and title considerations, selling versus keeping the home, buyouts, refinancing, property condition and timing. She collaborates with attorneys, financial professionals and other specialists when questions fall outside her role. Connect with Katie Lambert Team EvoAZ at eXp Realty www.katiehallelambert.com EvoAZ.com 480-508-9828 Associate Broker, Team EvoAZ at eXp Realty Divorce Real Estate Specialist, RCS-D https://www.katiehallelambert.com https://www.evoaz.com/divorce-real-es... About the host Kristina Heckel, CDFA®️, CFEI®️, CADP™️, founded Bloom Divorce Advisory Services to help individuals and couples approach the financial side of divorce with greater understanding. She is a Divorce Financial Planner and Mediator, not an attorney. Kristina founded Bloom Divorce Advisory Services to give individuals and couples a calmer, more informed way to move through the financial side of divorce. Her background spans hospitality leadership, financial services, and specialized divorce financial planning. She is not an attorney and does not compete with litigation attorneys. She occupies the informed middle: settlement-focused, education-driven, private, and genuinely invested in preserving both wealth and wellbeing. CDFA®: Certified Divorce Financial Analyst CFEI®: Certified Financial Education Instructor CADP™: Certified Amicable Divorce Professional Divorce Financial Planner Mediator https://go.bloomdas.com/vault-kit Here are some helpful links: Check out a helpful tool from Bloom, The Vault Kit: https://go.bloomdas.com/vault-kit Instagram:   / bloomdivorceadvisory   Website: https://www.bloomdas.com A quick note: this podcast shares general information drawn from real experiences. It is not specific financial advice. Please consult your own qualified advisors before making financial decisions. A quick note: this podcast shares general information drawn from real experiences. It is not specific financial advice. Please consult your own qualified advisors before making financial decisions.