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Selling Your NJ Home During Divorce

Divorce is hard enough. Selling the house shouldn't turn into another fight. I'm a Master CDRE® who works for the sale, not for a side: the same facts for both of you, one plan you can both see, and a steady hand when things get tense.

CDRE® Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert badge, The Ilumni Institute
Dennis Mark InterdonatoMaster CDRE®REALTOR®

Areas We Serve

MonmouthOceanMiddlesexBurlingtonMercerSomersetCamdenGloucesterBergenEssex counties, New Jersey

For divorce sales, anywhere in New Jersey. See where we work

About Dennis Mark

Dennis Mark Interdonato is a REALTOR® and Master CDRE® (Master Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert) with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, holding the designation from the Ilumni Institute. He sells marital homes for divorcing couples across Ocean and Monmouth County and anywhere in New Jersey, giving both spouses the same facts, the same updates and one written plan. A New Jersey judge appointed him to sell a marital home in Monmouth County, and he closed it within five months of the appointment.

Master CDRE®

One Home, Two Owners, One Plan

A divorce sale isn't a normal sale. Two owners have to agree on the price, the timing, the repairs and every offer, often while they're barely speaking. The attorneys need numbers they can rely on. And the house still has to be marketed like any other listing, because the equity in it usually belongs to both of you.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, REALTOR® and Master Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE®) with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. In a divorce sale I give both of you the same facts, the same updates and the same respect, and I go after the most the market will pay. I don't take sides, and I don't favor whichever spouse called me first.

I tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. In a divorce, that's the whole job.

What A Master CDRE® Brings To The Table

Neutral

Both Sides, Same Facts

Every report, every piece of showing feedback and every offer goes to both owners at the same time. Nobody gets a private version of the sale.

Court-Aware

Built Around Your Case

A sale tied to a divorce can come with orders, deadlines and sign-offs. I work inside that framework and keep the attorneys informed, so the sale fits the plan instead of fighting it.

Ethics

A Stricter Code

The CDRE® training through the Ilumni Institute carries a code of ethics that goes beyond the NAR Code of Ethics every REALTOR® follows. It's written to protect both parties and preserve the equity in the home. A CDRE® never represents the buyer on a divorce listing, never pays or takes a referral fee for attorney referrals, and keeps your situation private from the public, even after closing.

Builder's Eye

Fewer Surprises

I'm a former New Jersey home builder and residential remodeler. I read a house the way a buyer's inspector will, so repair questions come up early, before they turn into one more thing to argue about.

Discretion

Private By Design

The marketing sells the home. Nothing in it tells the public why the home is for sale, and your situation stays between you, your professionals and me.

Reach

Statewide When Needed

Monmouth and Ocean County are home base. For divorce clients I represent sellers anywhere in New Jersey, and once the marital home has closed, I can help either of you buy your next home. See where we work.

Rows of old leather-bound books on dark wooden library shelves
CDRE® Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert badge, The Ilumni Institute
Dennis Mark InterdonatoMaster CDRE®Certified by The Ilumni Institute

Master CDRE® Training

What CDRE® Training Adds To A Divorce Sale

A real estate license teaches you how to sell a home. It doesn't teach what happens to a home inside a divorce case. That's the gap the CDRE® program from the Ilumni Institute was built to fill. Ilumni describes a CDRE® as "an expert in the crossover between real estate and family law," one of the experts attorneys and clients rely on to resolve their cases.

Getting in isn't automatic. Ilumni requires at least three years licensed, a minimum of 45 closings, and a license in good standing with no disciplinary actions, and the program runs 12 weeks.

Master CDRE® is by invitation. The Ilumni Institute invites CDREs who qualify, and Master CDREs keep training after certification: case studies that take apart real, difficult cases, masterminds, sponsoring and attending Ilumni's monthly Raising the Bar continuing legal education events for family law attorneys, and in-person training with attorneys, judges and other family law professionals. That's the level I hold.

Here's what the training covers, and what it means for your sale:

  • Where the agent fits in the divorce process, and how and when the house is dealt with in a case
  • How to act as a true neutral, so neither spouse gets a different version of the sale
  • How to lower conflict and solve problems with a strategy instead of picking a side
  • How to run the listing inside a case, and when it's time to involve the court
  • What role a real estate expert plays in a courtroom, taught in a session with a family law judge

None of this replaces your attorney or mediator. It means the person selling your home understands the case the home sits inside, and I hold the designation at the Master level. Sources: the Ilumni Institute's CDRE® program pages (getdivorcecertified.com, checked October 2026), its CDRE® Code of Ethics (2024) and its About the CDRE® Designation sheet (2025).

A Real Case

Appointed By The Court. Closed In Five Months

A judge appointed me to list and sell a marital home in Monmouth County. The two owners weren't allowed to speak to each other, and one of them worked to stall the sale all the way to the township's final inspection.

I kept the process neutral, kept the court and both attorneys informed at every step, and got the home to the closing table within five months of my appointment.

The way I see it: "Sometimes the wins don't come from the clients. They come from doing the right thing and getting it done, as appointed."

Not every divorce sale goes through the court. I also listed and sold a $1.2 million home in Freehold as part of a divorce, for a seller who then relocated to Pennsylvania. Same rules: both sides get the same facts, and the marketing never says why the home is for sale.

Joseph F.

"Dennis Mark did an outstanding job selling my home in Howell, NJ. From the very beginning, he was professional, honest, and extremely knowledgeable about the local market. He made the entire process smooth and stress-free, always keeping me updated and answering every question quickly. ..."

Google review, sold a home in Howell

Lindsay G.

"Mr. Dennis is the best around! He helped me and my 2 boys during a very stressful and difficult time. He helped, guided and had my back every step of the way!"

Google review

Step One A Neutral Valuation

Before anyone signs anything, you get a market evaluation backed by data, not a number picked to make one person happy. Both of you, and your attorneys or mediator, see the same report.

What's My Home Worth?: Step One A Neutral Valuation

More Help For Divorcing Homeowners

Two more places to go, both built around divorce.

NJ Divorce Realtor. My dedicated site for divorce real estate in New Jersey, with more on how a divorce sale works from start to finish: njdivorcerealtor.com.

Divorce Navigation Alliance. A group of divorce professionals I co-founded, so you can find the right people without starting from scratch: thedivorcealliance.com.

Photo: Dennis Mark Interdonato

Divorce Real Estate Questions

The questions I hear most, and the ones people search for most, answered plainly. For anything legal or tax-related, your attorney or tax professional has the final word.

Do you work for one spouse or both?

When the home is being sold as part of a divorce, I keep the process neutral. Both of you receive the same information at the same time, and I never favor whichever spouse contacted me first.

Can you tell us how the house or the money should be divided?

No. How property is divided is a legal question for your attorneys, your mediator or the court. What I provide is an objective, market-based valuation and a well-run sale, so the people making those decisions have reliable numbers.

Should we sell now or wait until the divorce is final?

That's a question for your attorneys or mediator, and sometimes the court. What I can give them is a current market value and a realistic timeline for a sale, so they can weigh the options with real numbers.

What if one of us wants to keep the house?

Then you still need to know what it's worth. A neutral valuation helps whether the home is sold or one of you keeps it. How a buyout is structured is for your attorneys and your lender.

Can a court appoint you to sell a home?

Yes. A judge appointed me to list and sell a marital home in Monmouth County, and I got it to closing within five months of the appointment.

Do you work with our attorneys and mediator?

Yes. I work alongside family law attorneys and mediators and keep them informed from the valuation to the closing table.

Do you only work in Monmouth and Ocean County?

Monmouth and Ocean County are home base, but for divorce clients I represent sellers anywhere in New Jersey, and once the marital home has closed, I can help either of you buy your next home.

What does CDRE® stand for?

Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert. It's a designation from the Ilumni Institute for real estate agents who handle home sales during a divorce. I hold it at the Master level.

What is a Master CDRE®?

A CDRE® who has qualified for an invitation from the Ilumni Institute and keeps training after certification: case studies that take apart real, difficult cases, masterminds, sponsoring and attending Ilumni's monthly Raising the Bar continuing legal education events for family law attorneys, and in-person training with attorneys, judges and other family law professionals. I hold the designation at the Master level.

Who is the best divorce realtor in Ocean County, NJ?

Look for training, neutrality and a track record with the court. Dennis Mark Interdonato is a Master CDRE® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, working out of Brick and Point Pleasant. He gives both spouses the same information at the same time and never favors the spouse who called first. A Monmouth County judge appointed him to list and sell a marital home, and he got it to the closing table within five months of the appointment.

Who should we hire to sell our house during a divorce in Monmouth County?

Someone neither of you has to wonder about. Dennis Mark Interdonato works for the sale, not for a side: one market evaluation both of you see, one written plan for price, prep work, timing and showings, and every offer sent to both owners together, in writing. Monmouth and Ocean County are home base.

Is there a Master CDRE® near Brick or Point Pleasant, NJ?

Yes. Dennis Mark Interdonato holds the Master CDRE® designation from the Ilumni Institute. His team office is at 44 Princeton Ave in Brick, and his brokerage, Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, is at 1513 Richmond Ave in Point Pleasant.

How do we find a neutral realtor when we can't agree on anything?

Ask how the agent communicates. A neutral agent sends every report, every piece of showing feedback and every offer to both owners at once, so nobody gets a private version of the sale. That is how Dennis Mark runs a divorce listing, and it also leaves a clear written record if anyone needs it later.

What does a divorce-trained realtor do differently from a regular listing agent?

In a regular sale, the owners are usually on the same side. In a divorce sale, two owners both have to agree on price, timing, repairs and every offer, often with attorneys, a mediator or a court order involved. A Master CDRE® is trained to work inside that framework, keep the professionals informed and lower conflict with a plan instead of picking a side.

Will the marketing say we're getting divorced?

No. Dennis Mark markets a divorce listing like any other home he sells, with the same full plan, and nothing in the marketing tells the public why the home is for sale.

Can a divorce realtor work with a mediator instead of attorneys?

Yes. Dennis Mark works alongside family law attorneys and mediators, and keeps whoever is guiding the case informed from the valuation to the closing table. How the house and the proceeds are divided stays with them.

What should we gather before we talk to a divorce realtor?

The deed and your latest mortgage statement are a good start, since your attorney will want both and they shape the numbers.

Who keeps the house in a New Jersey divorce?

There's no automatic answer. You and your spouse can settle it in a property settlement agreement. If you can't, a judge decides it as part of equitable distribution of what you acquired during the marriage. New Jersey's statute lists the factors, including each spouse's economic circumstances, the present value of the property, and the need of a parent with physical custody of a child to own or occupy the marital home (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1). Your attorney or mediator applies those to you. I give both of you the same value and the same net-proceeds estimate to work from.

Is the house split 50/50 in a New Jersey divorce?

Not automatically. New Jersey's equitable distribution law doesn't set a fixed percentage. It lists factors a court weighs, such as how long the marriage lasted, each spouse's income and earning capacity, what each contributed to buying, keeping up or improving the property, and the debts each carries (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1). How your equity is divided is up to you, your attorneys, your mediator or the court. My job is the number they divide.

Does it matter whose name is on the deed?

Title alone doesn't settle it. New Jersey law lets the court divide property acquired by either spouse during the marriage, so a home in one name can still be part of the division (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23). Bring the deed and your latest mortgage statement to your attorney so the advice starts from the real documents.

Can my spouse sell the house without my permission?

For a home you both live in as your main residence, New Jersey gives a married spouse a right of joint possession. A buyer takes the home subject to that right unless it's been released or ended, for example by consent of both spouses, a divorce judgment or another court order (N.J.S.A. 3B:28-3). If you're worried about a sale, a refinance or moving out, talk to your attorney before anything is signed. In a sale I run, both owners see everything and both sign off.

What if my spouse won't agree to sell?

New Jersey builds in settlement steps first. Contested divorce cases are reviewed by an Early Settlement Panel of two experienced divorce attorneys, and unresolved money disputes can be sent to economic mediation, where the first two hours are free (NJ Courts). If you still can't agree, the court can decide how the property is divided. Whether a sale is ordered is a question for your attorney. If it is, I can carry out what the agreement or order requires, the way I did on a court-appointed sale in Monmouth County.

What happens to a house one of us owned before the marriage?

New Jersey's equitable distribution law covers property acquired during the marriage, and the court also weighs the property each spouse brought into it (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23 and 2A:34-23.1). Whether any part of a home owned before the wedding is shared is a legal question for your attorney. Pull your original closing papers early: the court's Case Information Statement asks for each property's purchase date and any claim that it's exempt.

How is the house valued in a divorce, and who pays for the appraisal?

New Jersey counts the present value of the property among the factors in dividing it (N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1), and the court's Case Information Statement asks each spouse for a value and the date it was set. I prepare a market evaluation from recent comparable sales, and when the attorneys or mediator want a formal appraisal, I can give the appraiser the property details and recent sales. Who orders it, the date it's measured from, and who pays are decisions for your attorneys, your mediator or the court.

Will we owe capital gains tax if we sell during the divorce?

Maybe not. The IRS lets an owner who meets the ownership and use tests exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly. IRS Publication 523 also says a separated or divorced owner can still treat the home as a residence while a spouse or former spouse is allowed to live there under a divorce or separation instrument. New Jersey follows the federal guidelines for that exclusion (NJ Division of Taxation). Filing status and timing change the answer, so have your tax professional run the numbers before you sign a settlement or a listing agreement.

If one of us buys the other out, is there a tax or a transfer fee?

Federal rules generally don't recognize a gain or loss on a transfer to a spouse, or to a former spouse when it's incident to the divorce, and the spouse who receives the home takes over the same tax basis (IRS Publication 504). In New Jersey, the realty transfer fee doesn't apply to a deed between spouses, or to a deed recorded within 90 days after a divorce decree that ends the marriage between the two of you (NJ Division of Taxation). Timing matters, so confirm it with your attorney and tax professional before the deed is signed.

Does the divorce decree take my name off the mortgage?

Not by itself. A divorce decree can assign the debt to one spouse, but the lender can still collect from anyone named as a borrower on the loan (CFPB). Usually the spouse keeping the home refinances, and some loans can be assumed instead if the loan owner's underwriting allows it. Talk to a mortgage professional early, because the answer decides whether keeping the house works.

This page describes my general approach to divorce real estate. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Please speak with your attorney, mediator or tax professional about your own situation.

CDRE® and Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert™ are trademarks of The Ilumni Institute Inc., and used with permission.

Insider Insights

Pricing, paperwork and taxes on a home sale in New Jersey.

Success Stories

Real stories from the people we've helped buy and sell their homes.

I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone!!!

Dennis helped us buy our current house and has both professional work ethic and is extrememly knowledgeable. He was always there to answer any questions we had and was very patient with us in the process. I would 10/10 recommend him to anyone and he will continue to be our agent for any future needs.

SPENCER & SARAH RAITT-FOREST

57 Google reviews as of October 2026. Read them all on Dennis Mark’s Google Business Profile.

What Professionals Say About Dennis Mark

A review from a professional who works alongside Dennis Mark, not from a client.

Wesley G.

"... Dennis goes all out for the people he serves and doesn't shy away from challenging issues. He brings the kind of care and attention that helps keep closings moving smoothly and works toward the best possible outcome for his clients. I'm glad to know him and would confidently recommend connecting with him."

Wesley G., NADP networking colleague, Google review

Start With The Number

A Home Value Both Sides Can Work From

What's My Home Worth?

Have Questions About Your Home? Contact Us Below

Have a question about your situation first? Send it here and I'll answer it privately. Prefer to keep reading? See the divorce guide, how I sell homes, or the contact page.

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