It is like living in Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn’s movie — just add bank owned foreclosure in the picture. The man sleeping in the master’s bedroom, while the wife in the guest’s room. Dividing bills between an estranged couple. Silence or a lot of bickering. This is a new lifestyle — living with your ex.

Judges and divorce lawyers have noticed the increase of cases where irreconcilable husbands and wives have share their used-to-be love nest again. Though these couples are in definite bad terms, the economic status forced them to endure living together.

This is a country-wide occurrence but is more rampant in foreclosure-hit areas like Sun Belt.

With the poor housing market, impending foreclosure and threat of bankruptcy, separated couples can not sell their properties and split the supposed sales income. Many are waiting for the recovery of economy while others are waiting for their financial stability.

A couple in Denver got their divorce but are still in their home because they do not have enough money to pay for their own houses. They wanted to sell their $179,000 home for something below $200,000, but it was too pricey that no one wanted to take it off the market. Though it seems awkward and stressful, the possibility of foreclosure, and even bankruptcy, would be more traumatic for them. So they would rather endure this personal hell.

Divorce mediator in Wayzata, Minnesota, Kent Peterson even has a case where a couple withholds their divorce because of the expenses brought about by the process.

Though closure is very difficult with this lifestyle, Linda and John Melville of St. Petersburg, Florida have to live together. Linda was dismissed from her job and can not afford to rent for herself.

Awkwardness is one, a lot of bashing can happen, but foreclosure is definitely more difficult to face this days. It seems that foreclosure is greater than love eh?