John Drennen- Las Vegas Mortgages

07/23/2026

Keeping the house isn’t the same as affording the house.
Make sure the numbers support the decision.

In the middle of a divorce, it’s natural to want stability. For many people, that stability feels tied to the home.

But keeping the house means more than just staying in it. It means qualifying for the mortgage on your own. It means understanding how support income is calculated. It means knowing whether the monthly payment, taxes, insurance, and maintenance truly fit your post-divorce budget.

Divorce agreements are negotiated one way. Mortgage approvals are evaluated another.

Before you agree to keep the home, make sure the financial reality aligns with the settlement terms. A decision that feels right emotionally also needs to work long term.

If you’re unsure whether keeping the house is financially sustainable, reach out. I can help you review your options and make an informed decision that protects your next chapter.

07/21/2026

A settlement provision I see fairly often: "The balance of the escrow account is awarded to [spouse]."

It is clear, both parties understand it, and the servicer cannot act on it.

When the existing loan pays off, the servicer refunds the escrow balance to the mortgagee of record. If only one spouse was on that loan, that is who receives the check, regardless of what the decree says. If both were, the check is payable to both and needs both signatures.

The fix is small. The agreement has to name a mechanism, not just an award. Who endorses it, who remits it, by when, or whether the amount is simply credited elsewhere so no transfer is needed at all.

Same idea applies to the tax year the parties owned the home jointly, to reassessment on transfer, and to exemptions that do not survive a change in occupancy.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4pxwSjV

07/18/2026

"John Drennen at VIP Mortgage is truly the GOAT! He is always on top of everything, extremely thorough, and consistently communicates throughout the entire process. He is available, helpful, knowledgeable, and one of the hardest-working people I know.

As a real estate agent, I feel completely confident referring my clients to John because I know he will take excellent care of them. Every client I have ever sent his way.." says Crystal on Google

★★★★★ John Drennen at VIP Mortgage is truly the GOAT! He is always on top of everything, extremely thorough, and consistently communicates throughout the entire process. He is available, helpful, knowledgeable, and one of the hardest-working people I know. As a real estate agent, I feel co...

07/16/2026

Divorce isn’t only about dividing assets—it’s about creating a sustainable future. The marital home plays a critical role in that process.

As a CDLP®, I help divorcing clients and their professional teams evaluate the home not just for its emotional significance, but also for its financial impact and mortgage feasibility.

This article dives into what really matters when the marital home is part of the settlement. http://bit.ly/3IpbV9S

07/15/2026

"John Drennon and Patience Harris were amazing. The made this process amazing I really thought it was gonna be so much more difficult. My parents were extremely happy thank you so much for your patience and for your amazing customer service." says Maria on Google

★★★★★ John Drennon and Patience Harris were amazing. The made this process amazing I really thought it was gonna be so much more difficult. My parents were extremely happy thank you so much for your patience and for your amazing customer service.

07/14/2026

A successful divorce settlement isn't just about reaching an agreement, it's about creating a plan that works long after the paperwork is signed.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I help uncover the housing and mortgage implications that can impact a settlement before decisions become final. Together, we can develop a realistic divorce housing plan that supports your financial future and helps create a stronger, more sustainable outcome.

If you're navigating divorce or are in the process of negotiating a settlement, let's have a conversation about your options before you make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

Reach out to me directly to learn how a divorce housing plan can help you move forward with confidence.

07/11/2026

In divorce cases involving real property, I often see decisions driven by emotional attachment, anchoring to unrealistic numbers, or assumptions about future financing.

The reality is this: If the numbers don’t work in practice, the settlement doesn’t work in real life.

Financial biases, like loss aversion or anchoring to early settlement numbers, can significantly influence negotiations and long-term outcomes. Bringing objective financial analysis into the process helps ensure decisions are based on data, not assumptions.

If real property is part of the settlement, determining value and feasibility early can make the difference between a workable agreement and future restructuring.

Read the article here:
https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/blog/financial-biases-in-divorce-strategies-for-divorce-financial-planning.cfm

If you’re an attorney, mediator, or financial professional and want to incorporate mortgage feasibility and valuation strategy into your cases, I’m always happy to collaborate.

07/07/2026

Summer often brings a shift in pace, making it an ideal time to revisit cases, prepare for the months ahead, and help clients make informed decisions about their future.

For family law professionals, one of the most important conversations to have before a settlement is finalized is whether the proposed housing solution is actually sustainable.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I work alongside attorneys and other divorce professionals to evaluate mortgage financing, affordability, and settlement terms before agreements are signed. Identifying potential issues early can help reduce surprises after the divorce and better position clients for long-term success.

This month's newsletter explores why summer is the perfect time to evaluate the house and how proactive Divorce Mortgage Planning can strengthen the divorce planning process.

Read the full newsletter here: https://divorcebriefings.com/summer

07/04/2026

In many divorce cases, the marital home is the largest asset on the balance sheet, but its value is often one of the most misunderstood figures in the entire settlement.

The valuation assigned to real property directly affects:
• Equity distribution between parties
• Buyout calculations
• Support negotiations
• The feasibility of one spouse retaining the home

Using an inaccurate or unsupported value can create downstream problems, disputes between parties, settlement delays, or housing outcomes that are difficult to implement.

It’s also important to recognize that not all valuation methods serve the same purpose. Online estimates, comparative market analyses, and formal appraisals each have different levels of reliability and different roles within the divorce process. Selecting the appropriate valuation method is essential to building a defensible agreement.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I often work with divorce teams to connect the valuation of the property to the practical realities of financing, equity access, and settlement implementation. Accurate numbers are not just helpful, they are foundational to durable, enforceable agreements.

If you work with cases involving real property and would like to better understand how valuation and mortgage feasibility intersect, feel free to reach out or connect. I’m always glad to be a resource.

06/30/2026

This Independence Day, I keep coming back to what freedom really means for the people I work with.

In divorce, freedom begins with an informed decision. Before the settlement is signed, while there is still time to plan, you deserve to understand what your home and your financial future can truly support.

That is the work I do as a Certified Divorce Lending Professional. I help you see your real options early because a legal option is not always a lending option, and that difference can shape your life for years.

If you or someone you know is facing these decisions this summer, let's talk before the terms are set, not after.

Happy Fourth of July!