Divorce
Removing an ex-spouse from the loan usually requires a refinance in the remaining borrower’s name. The divorce decree and any support payments affect qualifying.
Marriage
Adding a spouse can add income but also adds their credit and debts.
How marriage, divorce, inheritance or a job change affects a refinance.
Inheritance
Federal law generally allows heirs to keep an existing mortgage on an inherited home; a refinance may not be necessary.
Job change
A new job in the same field is usually fine; a move to self-employment or commission income may require more history.
Retirement
Retirement, pension and government benefit income can be used with documentation; assets may also count.
Coordinate with legal documents
Divorce decrees, wills and trusts often set deadlines for refinancing or transferring a home. Share them with your lender early so the loan and the legal documents match.
Income documentation
After a job change, lenders look at the new position's pay structure and stability. A salaried role in the same field is usually simpler to document than a move to commission or self-employment.
Retirement income
Pensions, government retirement benefits and retirement account distributions can be used as income when properly documented and expected to continue.
Timing
Many lenders want the life change to be settled, such as a final decree or a started job, before closing.
General education only; confirm current rules with official sources and a licensed lender.
Sources
Sources checked 10/23/2026.