Divorce & Real Estate · Oregon
The house is often the hardest part. It doesn’t have to be the ugliest.
I’m Marah Ellison, a divorce real estate specialist in Portland. I handle the property side of a separation calmly and even-handedly, so the home is one less thing to fight about.
Divorce & Real Estate · Oregon
Keep it, sell it, or buy each other out, with the numbers in plain view.
Before anyone signs, I lay out what each path for the home actually costs and nets. No pressure either way. Just a clear picture, so the decision stays yours.
Divorce & Real Estate · Oregon
When the home is handled well, both of you can move forward.
I keep the sale or transfer in step with your settlement and your legal team, with even communication to both sides, so nothing gets dropped and nothing gets rushed.
Even-handed by design
Neutral ground, in the middle of something that rarely feels neutral.
A divorce sale is not an ordinary sale. There are two people, two sets of feelings, sometimes two attorneys, and one house in the middle. My whole job is to keep that middle steady and fair.
I never take a side
I represent the transaction fairly. My job is a clean, well-priced sale or transfer, not to win anything for one of you against the other.
Every option, in plain numbers
Keep it, sell it, or buy each other out. I lay out what each path really costs and nets, so the decision is yours and it’s informed.
In step with your attorney
I coordinate with your legal team on timing, disclosures, and how proceeds are handled, so the real-estate steps line up with your settlement, nothing dropped.
How I help
The practical work, handled.
Value the marital home
A clear, defensible market valuation both parties and both attorneys can rely on.
Sell during the divorce
A calm, well-run sale with even communication to both sides at every step.
Buy your next home
When you’re ready to start again, I help you buy in a way that fits your new budget.
Prepare the home for sale
Sensible, cost-aware prep that lifts the price without draining shared funds.
In their words
Quiet, even, done.
“Selling the house was the one thing my ex and I agreed on, and I was dreading it. Marah kept everything even-handed and calm. Neither of us ever felt she was taking a side.”
R. M. · Portland
“I needed to know whether keeping the home was actually realistic before I signed anything. Marah walked me through the numbers plainly, with no pressure either way.”
K. T. · Beaverton
Client notes shown with initials only, for privacy. Illustrative examples for this template, to be replaced with real, consented client notes before launch.
A private, no-pressure conversation
Talk it through, in confidence.
Tell me where things stand. I’ll walk you through your options for the home, and if now isn’t the right time to do anything, I’ll tell you that too.
Book a private consultationBefore you ask
Common questions about divorce and the home
A few of the questions I hear most often. If yours isn’t here, just ask. There’s no charge for a first conversation.
What happens to the house in a divorce?
The home is usually addressed as part of the settlement. Common outcomes are selling and splitting the proceeds, one spouse buying out the other, or keeping it in shared ownership for a while. The right path depends on your finances, your agreement, and what each of you wants next.
Do we have to sell our home when we divorce?
No. Selling is not always required. Some couples agree that one spouse stays, especially when children are involved, though the spouse who stays usually needs to refinance the mortgage into their own name. I can help you understand the financial reality of each option before you commit to one.
How is home equity divided during divorce?
Equity is the difference between what the home is worth today and what is still owed on it. How it’s divided comes down to your agreement and what the court considers fair, which is not always an even split. My part is establishing an accurate, current market value, so the equity figure everyone works from is sound.
Can we sell the house before the divorce is finalized?
Often, yes, provided both parties agree. Selling early can simplify the financial settlement and cut ongoing carrying costs. I work closely with your attorney so the timing of the sale lines up with your legal proceedings.