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Published on:

3rd Oct 2023

From Separation to Home Sweet Home: Navigating Divorce and Refinancing

Today we are joined by Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®), Tami Wollensak. Tami shares how she helps her clients before they sign their settlement agreement by creating different options for them and making them aware of what those options look like, allowing them to make a better informed decision, and ultimately have a better divorce. Tami also shares advice on what to look for when considering negotiating a new mortgage after divorce, or keeping your current mortgage. Tune in today to learn more from a CDLP and receive a free resource. 

In this episode:

[1:30] Tami shares why she became a CDLP. [4:30] What to look out for regarding rising interest rates and negotiating a new/current mortgage. [7:00] Tami shares her thoughts on keeping the home for the kids. [10:50] Tami and Lesa discuss their resource that they’ve created for Doing Divorce Different listeners. [14:00] Tami shares her thoughts on owning a home together after a divorce. [18:17] Tami discusses interest rates and creating a customized Divorce Mortgage Plan. [23:00] Tami’s advice on building a team of professionals around you through your divorce. 

Key Takeaways: 

Knowing what you are signing up for helps bring peace to you and gives you clarity on what your divorce budget will look like. It’s really important to make sure that you know what you are doing and what you are signing up for during your divorce settlement. It’s not about having a big giant house and a mortgage that you can’t handle, it’s about creating a safe space for your children, a warm and loving environment that they feel loved in. Divorce Settlements are not a one size fits all, so it’s important to work with a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®) to create a plan that works best for you and your family, and ultimately, have a better divorce. 

Quotes: 

“I realized I could make a difference by helping people before they sign their divorce settlement by creating different options for them and making them aware of what those options look like, then they could make a better informed decision for them and their families, and ultimately have a better divorce.” Tami Wollensak

Guest Bio: 

Tami Wollensak is a licensed mortgage loan originator and a 28+ year veteran of the industry, she has experience working in multiple roles and facets of the industry. She has discovered her true passion in helping divorcing individuals navigate their home equity solutions and mortgage options while going through the most challenging time of their life.

Tami has earned the certification as a Certified Divorce Lending Professional (CDLP®). This specialization provides the ability to identify potential gaps in the agreement that cannot be met during the mortgage process. Tami works with her client’s attorney, coach, mediator, or financial advisor to help guide them through all the options available to ensure a successful outcome regarding the divorcing couple’s real estate or future purchase. Tami has been a guest on multiple podcasts, speaks regularly and contributes to many media outlets on divorce mortgage planning and helping divorcing

homeowners to make better and more informed decisions when it comes to their real property.

As a Mortgage Loan Originator, Tami’s goal is to educate her clients, take the mystery and anxiety out of the mortgage process, and provide a sense of security and peace to each of them. Tami can lend in all 50 states. (NMLS #1963450)

Resources: 

Divorce Essentials: A Guide To A Successful Split

Book A Meeting with Tami

Take Or Leave The House Website

Tami’s Facebook

Tami’s LinkedIn

Tami’s Instagram

Lesa Koski Website

Lesa’s Online Courses


To receive real-time alerts that your child is safe and to receive $50 off your Soberlink device, visit https://www.soberlink.com/partners/different


The Onward app was made for divorced parents to help track, share, and split their children's expenses. Download The Onward App today for iOS or Android!

Mentioned in this episode:

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A Podcast Guide to Doing Divorce Differently

About the Podcast

Doing Divorce Different A Podcast Guide to Doing Divorce Differently
Divorce, co-parenting, menopause, marriage, and starting over after 40—Doing Divorce Different is your guide to a healthy, faith filled life transition.

Hosted by Family Law Attorney and Mediator Lesa Koski, Doing Divorce Different is a candid, empowering podcast designed to take the fear out of divorce and guide you toward peace—whether you’re navigating a split, working to stay married, or rebuilding a better life after a major transition. Each week, Lesa brings heart-centered legal insight, emotional support, and holistic wisdom to help you heal, grow, and thrive.

We cover everything from amicable divorce and co-parenting strategies to parenting plans that actually work and support kids in thriving through change. You’ll learn how to prepare for marriage with prenups, revisit your relationship with post-nuptial agreements, and understand what it really takes to stay married or rekindle love after a rough season. If you're in the midst of a grey divorce, wondering how to not get divorced, or questioning whether love can be found again, this show is for you.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is not just a podcast about divorce. Doing Divorce Different is about taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

About your host

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Lesa Koski