Walnut Creek
$850K home, $310K mortgage, 6-month severance.
Outcome: Sold before severance ran out, netted $480K, relocated to Reno, rolled into a $410K home with no mortgage.
Mortgage-free in 90 days
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For homeowners with severance running and decisions to make
Severance bought you 90-270 days. Use them like leverage, not like a vacation.
A typical Bay Area tech severance lands somewhere between 3 and 9 months of base salary. That is a financial runway, not a financial outcome. Roger Grubb walks severance-recipient homeowners through whether selling now — while income is still flowing on paper and credit is intact — produces a better outcome than waiting. The decision rarely fits a generic answer. (510) 504-0402.
Who is writing this
Roger has handled severance-driven home decisions across tech, biotech, gov-contractor, and senior corporate roles. The pattern is consistent: families who decide early do better than families who wait for clarity. The severance window is exactly when the most options are still on the table.
The process
One person. End to end.
- 01
Inventory the runway
Severance amount + months of expenses + California UI window + spouse income (if any) + liquid savings. The total is your decision-making time.
- 02
Get the real number on the house
Roger runs the valuation honestly. Then nets out commission, closing, and any deferred maintenance. The number is often 8-12% lower than Zillow.
- 03
Test the three doors
Sell, refinance, rent. Each gets a 60-second math summary so you can compare apples to apples.
- 04
Decide — with a 30-day review built in
Whatever the decision, set a 30-day calendar check-in. The job search may pivot the picture. Roger does the check-in himself.
Cost
What it costs
Nothing for the consultation.
When to call somebody else
This is probably not the right move if…
- You are still in active negotiation on a severance package. Wait until the package is signed and the start of the window is firm.
- You have a job offer you are 80%+ likely to accept. Decide that first.
- You are at full retirement age and the severance is part of a planned retirement. That is a financial-planner conversation first.
The record
Recent transactions in this exact situation.
Albany
$1.4M home, $720K mortgage, 9-month severance.
Outcome: Held. Roger recommended a HELOC instead. Owner re-employed at month 7, no transaction.
No sale; HELOC + re-employment
San Mateo
$1.6M home, $930K mortgage, 4-month severance.
Outcome: Sold in 28 days, family moved in with parents for 6 months, deployed the equity into a 2027 re-entry.
28-day sale, family financial reset
Frequently asked
Questions before you call.
Should I sell my house during severance or after?
Before severance ends, in most cases. Your credit profile is still strong and you can qualify for any short-term financing you might need. Once severance ends and unemployment kicks in, credit conversations get harder.
Is severance taxed before I receive it?
Yes. California severance is subject to federal income tax (often withheld at the 22% supplemental rate), state income tax, and FICA. Your net is typically 60-70% of the gross.
Does receiving severance disqualify me from unemployment in California?
Lump-sum severance does not delay California UI eligibility (unlike some other states). You can file for UI immediately upon termination even with a severance check in hand. (Confirm with EDD; rules update.)
How much severance is typical in 2026 Bay Area tech layoffs?
FAANG and large publics: 4-9 months of base. Mid-tier tech: 2-3 months. Startups: 1-2 months or none. Senior leadership: 6-18 months. Contractors: typically none. Roles eliminated specifically by AI consolidation have trended slightly higher than average.
Should I use severance to pay down the mortgage?
Almost never. Severance is liquidity. Paying down a mortgage converts liquid runway into illiquid equity at exactly the moment you may need liquidity. The math only works if the mortgage rate is well above safe-yield alternatives — rare.
How long does it take to sell a Bay Area home end-to-end?
From first call to keys handed over: 30-45 days for a standard listing, 14-21 days for a tight all-cash buyer.
What is the next step?
Free 20-minute call with Roger. (510) 504-0402.
Call or text 24/7.
(406) 205-9003
Roger answers his own line. After hours your message is texted to him in under 60 seconds.