Is a house preferable to an apartment, post-divorce?

It depends what you are trying to achieve. Obviously, if safety and immediacy are issues, an apartment may be a good option because it is easier to get into one quickly. A house may take months to purchase. Renting a house is also a fine option for many people. The problem that I generally see in my practice comes up when the lesser-earning spouse faces the question of “If I don’t buy another house now, I won’t ever be able to own one again.” Buying a house while you still have the income of the other parent to bolster your loan chances is often a smart thing to do. The only trouble arises when you try to get the loan transferred to your name only, and the bank may not go for it because they don’t want to remove their ability to collect from the more well-off spouse in the event that you default.

For a lot of reasons, having a house – whether it is rented or owned – is the preferred choice. Enjoying a yard, having the ability to keep pets, and being in somewhat more open quarters so as not to disturb your neighbors with your every sound are reasons that support living in a detached house instead of an apartment. However, the rent on an apartment is often lower than a house because most apartments are smaller than most houses.