Divorce Changes a Lot. Sometimes It Changes Where You Live, Too.

Divorce is rarely just about divorce.

It can mean figuring out finances you never managed before.

Figuring out what happens with the kids.

Figuring out where you're going to live.

And sometimes, figuring out what to do with the house that used to feel like the center of your family.

That's where I come in.

I'm a real estate agent, not a divorce attorney or financial advisor. And I don't pretend to be one.

But I do understand that when divorce and real estate collide, the house can become one of the biggest—and most emotional—pieces of the puzzle.

Sometimes the First Question Isn't “Should We Sell?”

It's:

“What are my options?”

Maybe you're still living in the family home and don't know whether you can afford to stay.

Maybe your spouse wants to sell and you're not ready.

Maybe you need to sell because keeping the house simply isn't financially realistic.

Maybe you're moving out and need to find a new home.

Or maybe you have absolutely no idea what you should do yet.

That's okay.

You don't have to have the answer before you pick up the phone.

Sometimes the first step is simply understanding what's possible.

I've Seen How Much a House Can Represent

A house isn't just four walls and a mortgage.

It's where your children grew up.

It's the neighborhood where you've built friendships.

It's the place where birthdays happened, holidays happened, ordinary Tuesday nights happened.

So when someone says:

“We need to sell the house.”

that can mean a lot more than a real estate transaction.

It can mean the end of a chapter.

And I don't think that should be treated casually.

This Is One Reason Jane Does Well Matters to Me

I'm a Board Member of Jane Does Well, a Wellesley-based nonprofit supporting women navigating divorce and the many challenges that come with it. 

Jane Does Well provides women with access to educational programs, expert resources, community and support as they work through divorce and rebuild their lives. Its programming addresses issues ranging from legal and financial questions to parenting, emotional well-being and life after divorce. 

That work has reinforced something I already believed:

Nobody should have to figure out a major life transition completely alone.

And particularly when you're making decisions involving your home and your finances, having the right people around you matters.

My Role Is the Real Estate Piece

If you're going through divorce, I can help you understand the housing side of the equation.

That might mean:

Selling the family home.

We can look at what the property could realistically sell for, what preparation makes sense, and what the timing might look like.

Finding a new home.

If you're leaving the family home, I can help you figure out where you want to live next, what you can realistically afford, and what makes sense for your new circumstances.

Understanding whether staying is realistic.

Sometimes the right answer isn't to sell immediately. We can look at the numbers and the practical considerations so you can have a more informed conversation with your attorney and financial professionals.

Coordinating a complicated move.

Sometimes there are two properties, multiple timelines, children, school considerations and a tremendous amount of emotion involved.

That's when having someone who can simply take the real estate piece off your plate can make a difference.

I Don't Tell You What You Should Do

This is important.

I don't decide whether you should sell your house.

I don't tell you what your divorce settlement should look like.

I don't give legal advice.

And I don't tell you what your financial plan should be.

Those are decisions for your attorney and financial professionals.

My job is to give you accurate information about the real estate decisions in front of you.

What is the property worth?

What could it sell for?

What would buying another property look like?

What neighborhoods make sense?

What would the timing involve?

What are the practical realities?

Then you can make decisions with better information.

Sometimes You Need a Little Distance

One of the things I appreciate about working with people during major life transitions is that I don't have to be emotionally involved in the divorce itself.

I'm there for your real estate needs.

If you need to sell the family home, I'm thinking about the market, the buyer, the preparation, the pricing and the strategy.

If you need to buy, I'm thinking about your next home, your budget, the neighborhoods and what will work for your life now.

And if you aren't ready to do either?

That's okay too.

Information doesn't obligate you to make a decision.

Sometimes getting the facts is the first step toward feeling less overwhelmed.

Your Next Home Doesn't Have to Be Your Forever Home

This is something I tell people more often than you might think.

After a divorce, there can be enormous pressure to figure everything out immediately.

Where am I going to live?

Where will the kids go?

What kind of house should I buy?

What neighborhood?

How much can I spend?

But your next home doesn't necessarily have to be your forever home.

It can simply be the right home for the next chapter.

That can be incredibly freeing.

There Is Life After the House

The house may be one of the biggest practical decisions you'll have to make.

But it's not the whole story.

The goal isn't simply to sell a property.

The goal isn't simply to buy another one.

The goal is to help you get to the other side of a difficult transition with a plan for what comes next.

That's one reason my work with Jane Does Well means so much to me.

The organization isn't about pretending divorce is easy.

It's about helping women find information, support, community and a path forward. 

And sometimes that path forward includes figuring out where you're going to live.

If This Is Where You Are Right Now

You don't need to have everything figured out.

You don't need to know whether you're going to sell.

You don't need to know what your house is worth.

You don't even need to be ready to move.

Start with a conversation.

I can help you understand the real estate side of what's ahead—and if you need other kinds of support, I'll help point you toward the appropriate professionals and resources.

Because divorce is already complicated enough.

Your real estate shouldn't make it harder.

Ashley Liddle

Wellesley Real Estate Agent
English & Spanish
Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Board Member, Jane Does Well

Serving Wellesley and Greater Boston.

Learn more about Jane Does Well