At Coldwell Banker West, Rudy Flores is a Realtor® and Real Estate Strategist alongside Patti and Jeff McKelvey’s team. Here, he helps San Diego County spouses with the real estate side of a home they own together.
His role is neutral. He works on the house, not for one spouse against the other. Legal questions go to each spouse’s own attorney, tax questions go to a CPA and loan questions go to a lender.
Why Leases and Permits Help When You Share a Home
For about 12 years, Rudy worked on the real estate side of telecom, in development and site acquisition. He negotiated leases for cell sites and handled zoning and permit work in more than 100 cities and counties. Work like that runs on records, such as lease terms and permit files. Rudy brings the same approach to a shared home. The facts go in writing, and both spouses see them.
That matters most when one spouse hopes to keep the home. The buyout is commonly paid through a refinance, and the home usually has to be appraised. An appraiser can treat additions, finished garages or second units without permits differently, and a lender may ask about open permits. Permit history is a public record, so Rudy can help request it early and send the same copy to both of you.
Timing is part of the plan as well. The California Courts self-help site says a divorce takes at least six months. Once divorce papers are filed and served, standard restraining orders apply to both spouses. In general, neither spouse can then sell, borrow against or transfer property, including the home, without the other’s written consent or a court order. Your attorney can explain how these rules apply to you, and Rudy sets the real estate steps to follow that lead.
How Rudy Works With Both Spouses
- Either spouse can reach out first. A 15-minute call or the Home Strategy Quiz is a simple way to start. Before any work begins, Rudy explains how he keeps things even for both of you.
- Same information, same time. The value estimate, the comparable sales, the permit history and, if you sell, every offer go to both of you at once.
- Both attorneys stay in the loop. Rudy coordinates with each spouse’s attorney so the house follows the legal plan.
- If one of you keeps the home, Rudy can prepare a free value estimate you can both take to your attorneys and a lender. The divorce home buyout calculator on this site shows the basic math.
- If you sell, Rudy handles pricing, marketing, showings and offers in the interest of the sale, and both of you get every update until closing.
License and team
Rudy is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker West and works with the Patti & Jeff McKelvey Team. You can confirm his California real estate license, CalDRE #02257808, with the California Department of Real Estate license lookup. The responsible broker is Coldwell Banker West, CalDRE #01481919.
Questions about working with Rudy
Who does Rudy work for when we both own the home?
When you sell, he works on the sale itself, on behalf of both owners. He won’t take a side on who should get what, and he won’t carry messages meant to pressure either spouse. Each of you relies on your own attorney for legal advice.
Can Rudy help if one of us wants to keep the house?
Yes. He can prepare a value estimate and help you request the permit history, so you both see them before the appraisal and refinance. Whether a buyout works for you is a question for your attorney and a lender.
Does it cost anything to talk with Rudy?
No. The 15-minute call and the value estimate are free, and there’s no obligation. The conversation stays confidential.
Keep exploring
- Home Strategy Quiz — Four quick questions; Rudy reads every answer himself.
- Book a 15-minute call — Pick a time that works for you.
- Videos — Market notes, listings and neighborhood clips.
- Ask Rudy — Answers to real questions, and a form to ask your own.
- Our local sites — The team’s sites for each part of San Diego County.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Point Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #231073), at (619) 475-4095. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
Company names describe Rudy’s past professional experience only and do not imply affiliation with, or endorsement by, any of them. Rudy is a real estate agent, not a lender, attorney, tax professional or contractor.
