Situation calculators
Estimate the net equity in a marital home, divide it between spouses, and see the buyout it would take for one spouse to keep the house. This is a planning tool, not legal or financial advice.
A calculator is a starting point. Get a full picture with a direct review of payoff, taxes, title, condition, and timing.
Enter the value and balances, and the ownership share for spouse A. The tool shows each share and the buyout to keep the home.
Reviewed and updated June 2026
In a divorce, the home is often the largest asset to divide. Selling converts the equity to cash that can be split cleanly. A buyout lets one spouse keep the home by paying the other their share, but it usually means refinancing the existing loan into one name. Both paths start with the same equity figure.
The two figures to read are the net equity if you sell and the buyout it would take for one spouse to keep the home.
The starting point is net equity, which is the home value minus the loan payoff, any liens, and the selling costs if the home is sold. That equity is then divided between the spouses according to the settlement, which is often but not always an even split, and which can be affected by non-marital contributions and other assets.
If one spouse keeps the home, a buyout pays the other spouse their share of the equity. Because the existing loan usually has to be refinanced into the keeping spouse's name, the buyout amount and the new payment both matter. This tool gives a clean starting estimate, and the binding division comes from your settlement and your attorney.
Net equity is the home value minus the payoff, liens, and selling costs, and it is divided according to your settlement. Illinois uses equitable distribution, which is often an even split but can be adjusted for non-marital contributions and other assets.
One spouse keeps the home and pays the other their share of the equity. This usually requires refinancing the existing loan into the keeping spouse's name so the other spouse is released from the mortgage.
Selling converts equity to cash that can be divided cleanly and ends shared liability on the loan. A buyout keeps the home with one spouse but depends on that spouse qualifying for a refinance and affording the new payment. Run both scenarios.
No. It is a planning estimate. The binding division comes from your settlement and court order. Confirm equity, title, and any non-marital claims with your attorney.
Illinois divides marital property equitably, which means fairly but not always equally. The marital share of the home equity is part of the overall division, and non-marital contributions, such as a down payment made before the marriage, can shift each spouse's share.
Selling converts equity to cash that both sides can split cleanly and ends the shared loan. A buyout lets one spouse keep the home but usually requires refinancing the existing mortgage into that spouse's name alone, which depends on income, credit, and the equity available.
This calculator is general information for Chicago-area owners, buyers, and investors. It is not legal, tax, lending, appraisal, or brokerage advice, and rates or rules can change. Verify figures with the appropriate professionals before money moves or documents are signed. Division of marital property is decided by your settlement and the court. Confirm with your attorney.