Selling Your Home During Divorce: What Every Texas Family Needs to Know
A conversation with Liz Crisostomo, Coldwell Banker REALTORS®
About This Episode
For many couples going through a divorce, the family home is the single largest asset on the table — and deciding what to do with it can feel overwhelming. Do you sell? Does one spouse buy out the other? And if you do sell, how do you prepare, price, and navigate the process while your life is in the middle of a major transition?
In this episode, Board-Certified family law attorney Jennifer Hargrave sits down with Liz Crisostomo, a North Texas realtor with Coldwell Banker REALTORS® who specializes in guiding families through the complexities of selling a home during and after divorce. With a background in engineering and years of experience working alongside family law attorneys and courts, Liz brings a uniquely analytical — and deeply compassionate — approach to one of the most stressful transactions a person can face.
Together, Jennifer and Liz walk through the entire process: from that first conversation with a realtor, through staging and pricing strategy, to negotiating protective contract terms and helping children feel safe through the move. Whether you’re just beginning to consider your options or you’re already under contract, this episode is packed with practical, honest guidance from two professionals who have walked alongside Texas families through this exact journey.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How the home sale process works — from your first call with a realtor to closing day
- What ‘nesting’ is, and whether it might be the right short-term solution for your family
- The low-cost home improvements that return more than they cost (and the ones that don’t)
- Why overpricing your home is one of the biggest mistakes divorcing sellers make
- How to handle the challenge of selling and buying at the same time
- Smart negotiation tools: seller leasebacks, closing cost credits, and appraisal contingencies
- What rising homeowner’s insurance costs mean for your sale — and how to plan around them
- How to help your children feel included and less anxious about moving to a new home
Key Takeaways
Start Early and Get the Right Realtor The earlier you bring in a realtor, the better positioned you’ll be. Ideally, you want a professional involved before furniture is divided — because staging matters. A realtor who understands divorce will know how to work with both parties sensitively and efficiently, and will bring a trusted network of contractors, stagers, and legal professionals to the table.
Prepare Your Home Strategically You don’t need to spend a fortune to increase your home’s value. Fresh neutral paint, clean carpets, and strong curb appeal go a long way. Focus on what buyers see first: the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom. And never underestimate the power of a staged home — the right furniture arrangement can be the difference between sitting on the market for months and selling in a week.
Price It Right from Day One In today’s market, the first three weeks of a listing are the most important. Overpricing leads to price reductions, which signal to buyers that something is wrong. A listing that goes stale can end up selling for less than it would have if it had been priced accurately from the start. Work with a realtor who uses appraiser-grade valuation methods, not just a quick online estimate.
Know Your Options After the Sale Many divorcing sellers feel pressure to immediately purchase a new home. But a short-term rental can be a smart bridge — giving you time to stabilize financially, process the transition, and make a thoughtful buying decision without pressure. You can always find your forever home in chapter two.
Use Negotiation Tools to Your Advantage Most sellers don’t know they can ask to stay in their home for a few weeks after closing — this is called a seller leaseback, and it can make the logistics of moving far less stressful. Buyers, meanwhile, can often negotiate closing cost assistance. An experienced realtor knows how to use these tools strategically within the contract.
Include Your Kids in the Process Children often feel the anxiety of a move more acutely than adults realize. One of the most effective things you can do is involve them — bring them along on home tours, let them ask questions, give them a sense of agency in the transition. When children feel included, the unknown becomes a little less scary.
Full Episode Transcript
Jennifer Hargrave When it comes to divorce, the marital residence is often one of the most contentious topics couples face. Deciding what to do with the home raises a host of legal, financial, and emotional issues. When it comes time to sell, you need an expert on your side. That’s why I’m so excited to have Liz Crisostomo here today — she’s a realtor with Coldwell Banker REALTORS® serving the North Texas area. Liz, I’m so happy to have you.
Liz Crisostomo Thank you so much for having me today, Jennifer.
Jennifer Hargrave So let’s start at the very beginning. If someone is thinking about selling during or after a divorce, what does that process look like when they first reach out to a realtor?
Liz Crisostomo I’ll usually start with a quick ten to fifteen minute get-to-know-you call. I want to understand their expectations and what the market looks like for their home. Then we’ll schedule a walk-through together. Once we’re at the table, the real conversation begins — what are they hoping to accomplish? In divorce situations, I’ve seen it play out many different ways. Sometimes one spouse leaves and the other refinances. I’ve even worked with a family who had young children and didn’t want to disrupt their routine — so both parents got separate rentals and alternated living in the family home.
Jennifer Hargrave We actually call that ‘nesting.’ It takes a very unique family dynamic to make it work, but in the short term it can really stabilize things for the kids. Long term, though, most people are ready for their own space.
Liz Crisostomo Exactly. And ideally, I get involved before the furniture gets divided — because staging matters enormously when you’re trying to sell. I’ll walk the home almost like an inspector would. Sometimes I’ll even recommend a pre-listing inspection. The goal is to figure out what’s worth addressing and what buyers will overlook. For example, in one master bath we didn’t touch the countertops or shower — we just swapped out the knobs, lighting fixtures, and mirrors, and painted the cabinets. It made a dramatic difference.
Jennifer Hargrave So you’re really looking for ways to maximize value with the least amount of upfront cost.
Liz Crisostomo That’s right. The biggest bang for your buck is paint — neutralizing the main rooms almost always returns what you spend. And cleanliness is non-negotiable. If there’s pet odor or dirty carpet, get it out before you list. Even if you offer a credit, buyers have already been turned off in their minds. Curb appeal matters too — it doesn’t have to be a beautiful garden, just clean and well-maintained. Buyers form their first impression in the first thirty seconds, and they spend the rest of the tour trying to confirm that decision.
Jennifer Hargrave What about staging — is it worth the investment?
Liz Crisostomo It can absolutely make the difference. I have two stagers I work with — one who works with your existing furniture and one who brings in new pieces for vacant homes. Empty homes are actually harder to sell because buyers struggle to visualize the space. I had a home that sat on the market for weeks because buyers kept saying it looked yellow and tired. We staged it with nice furniture and it sold that week. Sometimes the psychological shift for buyers is everything.
Jennifer Hargrave Tell me about the team you bring when someone hires you.
Liz Crisostomo I work closely with a small group of trusted agents who give feedback on my listings. Beyond that, I have strong relationships with title companies and real estate attorneys — our company’s co-owner’s son is actually a real estate attorney, so we have direct access when things get complicated. I also have a network of contractors for roofing, flooring, painting, HVAC, and even movers and apartment locators. My goal is to take as much off the client’s plate as possible, especially when they’re already dealing with so much.
Jennifer Hargrave That’s so important in a divorce context. And I know Coldwell Banker has a program that helps with upfront renovation costs?
Liz Crisostomo Yes — it’s a program where they’ll front the cost of repairs or updates, and you don’t repay until closing or up to a year later. So if you need flooring or paint but don’t have the cash right now, you don’t have to hold back on preparing the home. Spending $5,000 upfront can easily bring in an extra $20,000 to $30,000 at closing — it’s worth it.
Jennifer Hargrave Let’s talk about pricing. How do you determine what to list a home for?
Liz Crisostomo I actually have an engineering background, so I love the analytical side of this. I use the same valuation tables that appraisers use — adjusting for square footage, age, features, and condition. Then I’ll walk comparable active listings in person just to get a real feel for the competition. Right now I’m looking at three-month comparables because the market is moving quickly. And I want to be very clear about one thing: overpricing is a real danger. In this market, your first three weeks are critical. If you list too high and then have to reduce, buyers start wondering what’s wrong with the home. A listing that goes stale can actually sell for less than it would have if it had been priced correctly from day one.
Jennifer Hargrave That’s something a lot of sellers don’t realize. They think starting high gives them room to negotiate — but it can backfire significantly.
Liz Crisostomo Exactly. I’ll sometimes allow a client to try a higher number for a week or two if they push for it, but I’m very clear about what we’re watching for — no showings, no offers. Those are the signals we need to adjust quickly.
Jennifer Hargrave For families going through a divorce specifically, what are the biggest challenges you encounter and how do you help them through those?
Liz Crisostomo Finances are usually the first challenge. Both parties often want to move directly into a home similar to what they had, but that’s not always realistic right away. Sometimes the best move is a short-term rental — it gives you time to build up funds, get your footing, and make a thoughtful decision without pressure. The other big challenge is timing. Trying to sell and buy simultaneously is genuinely difficult, especially because most sellers won’t accept a contingent offer. Having a professional help you sequence that correctly is really important.
Jennifer Hargrave And what about negotiations — what kinds of things can sellers or buyers ask for that they might not know about?
Liz Crisostomo For sellers, one of my favorite tools is the seller leaseback — you close the sale but negotiate a few extra weeks to stay in the home while you arrange your move. It’s a simple ask that can relieve enormous stress. On the buyer side, closing cost assistance is back in style right now. Just make sure you’re coordinating with your lender so that credit is fully applied — otherwise it disappears at closing.
Jennifer Hargrave What about the contract itself — it can be a lot to navigate even for an attorney.
Liz Crisostomo I love contracts — I probably should have been a lawyer! There are so many protective forms available that most people don’t know about. For example, if I’m not sure a home will appraise, I’ll include an appraisal contingency that lets the buyer walk away with their earnest money if the appraisal comes in low. And with homeowner’s insurance costs rising in Texas the way they are, I’m building that into the equation earlier in the process. I’ve seen deals fall apart at the very last minute because insurance premiums pushed a buyer over their debt-to-income limit.
Jennifer Hargrave That’s exactly why having a knowledgeable realtor in your corner matters so much. I remember when we were selling my parents’ home after my mom passed — it was an overwhelming time, and just having someone who could walk alongside us and give us updates at each stage made all the difference.
Liz Crisostomo I went through something similar when my father passed. He hadn’t taken care of a lot of repairs, so there were surprises around every corner. My sister just looked at me and said, ‘You handle it.’ That experience actually shaped how I work with clients going through major life transitions. I send milestone updates throughout the process so no one is ever left wondering what’s happening. I also sit in on inspections whenever possible — I’ve learned so much from them. And when something comes up that needs a specialist, like a foundation engineer, I make that call.
Jennifer Hargrave I can personally vouch for the care and expertise Liz brings to every client she works with. If you’re going through a divorce and facing the sale of your home, or if you’re ready to find your next chapter, Liz is a remarkable resource. We’ll include her contact information in the show notes. Liz, do you have a final word of encouragement for someone who’s feeling anxious about all of this?
Liz Crisostomo I just want people to know that we are going to get through this together. Maybe you can’t get your dream home right now — but we will get you there. And if you have children who are anxious about the move, bring them along when you look at new homes. Make them part of the process. When kids feel included, it’s not as scary. That goes for the adults too.
Jennifer Hargrave Beautifully said. Thank you so much, Liz, for being here and for the incredible work you do every day supporting families through some of life’s hardest transitions.
About Liz Crisostomo
Liz Crisostomo is a licensed real estate professional with Coldwell Banker REALTORS® serving families across the North Texas area. With a professional background in engineering, Liz brings a detail-oriented, analytical approach to every transaction — using the same valuation methods as certified appraisers to help clients price their homes with confidence.
Liz has extensive experience working with clients navigating divorce, estate sales, and other major life transitions. She is known for her responsiveness, her wide professional network — including contractors, stagers, title companies, and real estate attorneys — and her genuine commitment to getting families through difficult transactions with as little stress as possible.
📍 Serving the North Texas / Dallas-Fort Worth area 🌐 Liz Crisostomo – Real Estate Agent – Coldwell Banker | 📞 (972) 208-8797
Additional Resources:
• Divorcing with Real Estate in Dallas: From Family Homes to Complex Real Estate Portfolios
• Navigating a Dallas High Net Worth Divorce: Dividing Stocks, Business Assets, and Complex Wealth
• Divorce for Business Owners: How to Protect Your Livelihood and Your Future
• Who Buys the Backpack? Navigating Child Support While Co-Parenting
• Back to School Transitions: From Summer Relaxation to School Year Routines
• The Truth About 50/50 Custody Laws: Pros, Cons, and Hidden Risks
• Politics, Love, and Divorce: Can Couples Survive Different Beliefs?
• Who Am I Now? Reclaiming Your Voice and Identity After Divorce
