I am going through a divorce, and the last piece is buying my spouse out of the home. I have lived off-site since we started the process. I was about to close a loan to pay off my spouse, but the loan stalled as the lender stated I had to have lived there for at least 12 months. The home is paid for, so I would functionally take out a first mortgage. I have been unable to find anything other than I must occupy the home within 60 days of closing. Does this sound like lime? Lender rule, or am I missing something? The FHA guidelines?