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"Traditionally, divorcing couples would resolve their property division by either selling the marital home, or one party buying out the other," said Lapeer Circuit Court Judge Michael Higgins. "But homes aren't selling, and people are losing their jobs."

And numbers of mortgage foreclosures are skyrocketing.

"They just about doubled from 2006 to 2007," said Lapeer County Register of Deeds Melissa DeVaugh. "In 2007 there were 642 recorded foreclosures, and 38 redeemed. In 2006 there were 376 recorded, with 34 redemptions. When someone defaults on their mortgage, there is a right of redemption to get it back."

Problems began during the county's thriving real estate market, and many people chose to refinance their mortgages.

"The year 2002 was the big refinance boom. A lot of people refinanced," DeVaugh said. "In 2002, there were 183 foreclosures with 34 redemptions; in 2003, 194 foreclosures with 35 redemptions; 167 foreclosures with 35 redemptions in 2004 and 206 with 43 redemptions in 2005."

Couples who choose to dissolve their marriage or relationship are now finding their home has little or no value.

"It makes it very difficult to resolve the divorce if the parties can't sell their home," Higgins said. "Now we're seeing cases where the debt on the home exceeds the value, because the value has declined. Say the marital home was worth about $250,000 and $220,000 is owing on a first and second mortgage. That home in today's market is only worth $190,000."

Often couples who are incompatible find must share the same house.

"It's not a good situation, like walking on egg shells," Higgins said. "If one person lives there, the other one still has to help pay the mortgage, and that person can't afford a new place."

One Lapeer County woman, who didn't want her name used, was forced to share living quarters with her soon to be ex-husband for months.

"It was a living nightmare," she said. "We barely spoke, and I had to lock up everything in my vehicle. By the time he left, any good feelings we had toward each other were gone. I hate him, and that's not good. We have children."

The home eventually sold for about $50,000 less than comparable homes the previous year.

"I'm lucky," she said. "Our kids are lucky. We could still be arguing and living — if you call it living — together in the same house.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com