Marc Edelstein-Ross Mortgage - NMLS 533706

11/03/2026

"Just offset the house with retirement" sounds clean at the settlement table.

The Divorce Lending Association's November issue of Divorce Mortgage Insights takes a closer look. In its illustrative example, the spouse keeping the house gives up $100,000 of their share of a retirement account to keep a 3 percent mortgage. Left to grow at 6 percent for 20 years, that $100,000 could be about $320,000.

The article makes a second point that often gets missed: a dollar in a pre-tax retirement account is not the same as a dollar of home equity. How much they differ is a question for the case's tax professional, but it belongs in the conversation before the offset is agreed.

That's not an argument against the offset. Selling and refinancing carry their own costs, and the article compares all three side by side. The point is that each path should be priced before one is chosen.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I work alongside attorneys, mediators, and financial professionals on exactly this kind of comparison.

Read the full article here: https://divorcebriefings.com/4BFYwB7

10/29/2026

You can’t negotiate a hypothetical—but that’s exactly what happens in most divorces.

The house becomes the focal point.
Emotions take over.
Decisions get made based on what feels right—not what qualifies.

Here’s the problem:
A court can award a home.
Only a lender can approve a mortgage.

If the financial structure doesn’t align with lending guidelines, the agreement can fail after it’s signed.

That’s not a legal issue. It’s a planning gap.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I help bring clarity to what’s actually possible—before decisions are finalized.

If you want to understand your real options, connect with me.

10/27/2026

The house is on the table in almost every divorce. Who keeps it, how the buyout is structured, and whether the loan can be refinanced. Attorneys, mediators, and financial neutrals each bring something essential to those decisions.

Is your divorce team complete?

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I practice Divorce Mortgage Planning as an integral member of the professional divorce team. My role is to help test whether the housing plan being negotiated is one the parties can actually carry out.

I’m not there to replace anyone at the table. I’m there to work alongside you, so the decisions about the house are built on a clear understanding of what is financially feasible.

If you work with divorcing clients, I’d welcome a conversation about how we can work together.

10/24/2026

Sometimes the easiest path isn’t the safest one. It’s common for divorcing couples to consider assuming the existing mortgage to avoid the costs of refinancing and to keep a low rate and payment. But what starts as a quick solution can lead to financial strain later if the full mortgage picture isn’t reviewed first.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), my role is to evaluate every option, including loan assumptions, and provide a Divorce Mortgage Planning and Analysis that helps both parties move forward with clarity and confidence.

You deserve a plan that supports your next chapter, not just the next payment.

10/22/2026

Before deciding who keeps the house, ask the question that actually matters:

Is the home financially sustainable post-divorce?

A court can award the property.
A settlement can define the terms.
But neither determines whether the mortgage will work.

Post-divorce income, debt structure, and support all impact qualification.

Without that analysis, the decision isn’t a strategy—it’s a risk.

As a CDLP®, I help ensure housing decisions are built on structure, not assumption.

Read more:
https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/blog/why-a-structured-mortgage-capacity-framework-changes-everything-in-divorce.cfm

If you’re navigating divorce or advising clients who are, connect with me.

10/20/2026

"Is this loan assumable?"

It's one of the most common questions I hear in divorce cases, and it often gets an accurate answer to the wrong question.

When someone calls the servicer and asks, the answer usually comes from the note, which covers selling the house to a buyer. But a transfer between spouses under a divorce decree follows a different set of rules. A correct "no" can still close a door the case never looked behind.

And even when the answer is yes, "assume the mortgage" can mean three very different outcomes. Only one of them actually releases the spouse who is leaving.

This article walks through the four questions that matter before a settlement agreement is signed.

Read it here: https://www.divorcelendingassociation.com/blog/is-the-mortgage-assumable-in-a-divorce-ask-this-instead.cfm

If you have a case where the house and the mortgage are part of the settlement, let's talk while the agreement is still a draft. As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), this is exactly the work I do.

10/20/2026

Full disclosure. I don't do haunted houses. Someone jumps out of a closet, I'm the guy running the wrong way.

But a lot of you love them. So I put together a guide to the best haunted houses and haunted hayrides in Metro Detroit. From a safe distance.

Erebus. Eloise Asylum. Rotten Manor. Blake's. Scarefest. Dates, hours and ticket links for each one.

And for people like me, there's a section on free neighborhood displays. Tillson Street in Romeo. The Lochaven house in Waterford. The skeletons in downtown Northville. Nobody chases you. Perfect.

Halloween is 11 days away and the weekends sell out, so grab your tickets now.

Where are you going this year? Brave souls, tell me in the comments.

10/17/2026

What’s often overlooked can cause the biggest setbacks. Loan assumptions made during divorce may seem like an easy fix, but hidden financial and legal risks can create long-term consequences, delaying settlements or endangering homeownership.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I work to identify these risks early and structure mortgage solutions that protect both parties’ financial futures.

Read more: https://divorcebriefings.com/4qF3V5S

10/14/2026

C***r and donut season is here, and Metro Detroit has some of the best c***r mills in the state.

I put together a guide to 17 local favorites, from Yates and Franklin to Blake's, Hy's and Dexter. Each one includes the address, this season's hours and a link to their website, so you can plan your trip without digging around.

A few things worth knowing before you go: some mills are cash only, a couple are completely cashless, and several close in early November. It's all in the guide.

Which c***r mill is your family's tradition? Let me know in the comments.

Planning a fall c***r mill trip? Here are 17 Metro Detroit c***r mills by area, with addresses, hours and links, from Rochester and Northville to Armada and Dexter.

10/13/2026

This time of year reminds us that letting go is part of every season.

As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), I often see decisions about the home being made before anyone has looked at what they will mean for the mortgage.

If you are going through a divorce, you are letting go of a lot right now. That deserves patience. What comes next deserves a plan.

Before you sign the settlement, find out how its terms will affect your ability to keep the house, refinance, or buy your next home. Getting those answers early gives you the chance to make choices with clear information rather than finding out after the agreement is final.

If you or someone you know is facing these decisions, I would be glad to talk through your situation.