Is Keeping Your House in a Divorce Worth It?

 Posted on November 27, 2025 in Family Law

When divorce happens, keeping the house might feel like maintaining stability during chaos. But the emotional pull to keep your home can blind you to the financial reality – sometimes keeping the house is the worst financial decision you can make in a divorce.

Keeping the home in a divorce does work for some people, but the right choice depends on your specific financial situation and future plans. Understanding the true cost of keeping your marital home helps you make smart choices rather than sentimental ones. Our experienced firm of Naperville, IL divorce attorneys is here to help. 

What Does It Really Cost to Keep the House in a Divorce?

The mortgage payment is just the beginning of homeownership after divorce. Property taxes in DuPage County can be substantial and homeowners insurance, utilities, maintenance, and repairs add up quickly. When you were married, two incomes covered these costs. After divorce, you handle everything alone on one income.

Major repairs become your sole responsibility. When the roof needs replacing, the furnace dies, or the basement floods, you pay the entire bill. These emergencies can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. 

How Do You Buy Out Your Spouse's Share of Your Home in a Divorce?

If the house is marital property, your spouse probably owns around half the equity under Illinois’ equitable distribution laws (750 ILCS 5). To keep the house, you must not only qualify for a new mortgage under your own name, but also buy out your spouse’s share. 

Some people get around this by trading other assets for the house. You might give your spouse retirement accounts or other property equal in value to their share of the home equity. This sounds fair, but it can leave you without diversified assets. Before you put all your eggs in one basket, think about your long-term financial goals, your age, your full financial picture. Only then decide whether you can truly afford to buy out your spouse’s share of the home. 

Is Keeping Our Home in Divorce Better for the Kids? 

Parents often want to keep the house so their children can stay in the same home, school, and neighborhood. But stability for kids has both financial and emotional components. A parent who is financially stretched and stressed about money could simply create a different kind of instability.

Your children benefit more from a parent who is financially secure than from staying in a specific house. If keeping the house means you are constantly worried about money, working extra hours, and unable to afford activities or opportunities for your kids, you have not created stability.

Consider whether your children really need this specific house or whether they need you to be present and not overwhelmed. Moving to a smaller, more affordable home might actually reduce stress for everyone. 

Call a DuPage County, IL Divorce Attorney Today

Deciding whether to keep your house in your divorce requires an honest assessment of your finances and future goals. Contact Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices at 630-932-9100 for a free consultation about your divorce case. Our Naperville, IL divorce lawyers help clients make informed decisions about marital property, including whether keeping the family home makes financial sense.