Chuck Valence
First licensed in 1994, Chuck earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a major in Real Estate from the University of Florida (’95). He continually educates himself through professional development courses and continuing education and has earned the following designations:
- Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS)
- Real Estate Collaboration Specialist – Divorce (RCS-D)
- Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)
- Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
- Florida Military Specialist (FMS)
- REO (Real Estate Owned) Specialist (REO)
Chuck is also a retired U.S. Marine. When you work with him and Valence Realty as your Broker, you have a professional with the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and commitment on your side.
**ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS CONTEMPLATING DIVORCE**
During the divorce is the best time to prevent real estate triggered damaged credit, foreclosure, or even bankruptcy from joint mortgage debt or undiscovered liens or property issues associated with joint title that cannot be fixed AFTER the divorce is final.
Although the marital home generally accounts for 60% of a family’s net worth, there is nearly no state prescribed guidance for divorce real estate – that is why you need a specially trained Broker to guide you through the process.
Because “Appraisal minus Mortgage” does not equal house equity, real estate due diligence is needed to supplement evidence of your house (and therefore YOUR) net worth.
Here are some examples of costly mistakes made by divorcing spouses:
- Wife (who moved out of the house) could not qualify for mortgage because the husband (who stayed in the house) paid the mortgage late several times post divorce.
- Husband could not qualify to individually refinance
- Wife quitclaimed ownership per property settlement
- Due to quit-claiming her rights away, Wife can no longer require husband to sell house (without going back to court)
- After divorce was finalized, Husband/Wife both on title, Husband stayed in the house
- After the divorce there was hail damage and a claim for $8700. Husband discovered (post divorce) that the Wife was the only “Named Insured” on the policy. Insurance proceeds check was payable and remitted to the Wife only, Wife deposited the check and then emptied her bank account.
- Because her ex-Husband kept the house, one woman was dragged into bankruptcy after his mortgage refinance application was denied post-divorce and their joint mortgage was foreclosed upon.
There are only two ways off of a joint mortgage:
- Individual refinance by one spouse (prior to finalizing the divorce or signing a quit claim deed…you cannot “quitclaim” a joint mortgage)
- Sell the house
Keeping the house for emotional reasons is often not in the best financial interests of the parties (“I have to keep the house for the kids!”)
As a Divorce Real Estate Specialist (RCS-D), Chuck is uniquely qualified to help divorcing homeowners navigate the myriad of issues associated with real property in divorce situations (house condition, liens, title issues, HELOC?, mortgage evidence, finance capabilities of the parties, etc.) If you are contemplating, or actively going through a divorce, and own real estate, PLEASE CONTACT & WORK WITH A SPECIALLY TRAINED BROKER like Chuck. If you or anyone you know is in this situation, please contact him PRIOR TO FINALIZING YOUR DIVORCE.
In his spare time, Chuck enjoys sports, skiing, scuba-diving, weightlifting, spending time with his family, and of course, the Florida Gators.
