Yahoo Finance ‘That’s just strange, weird and dumb’: Canadian man’s wife won’t leave the house even though the marriage is headed for divorce. Dave Ramsey can’t stop laughing at the ridiculous situation
The matrimonial home is commonly a key asset that couples fight over in divorce battles. But what happens when one partner simply doesn’t want to leave the house once the relationship has ended?
Jake, 24, from Ontario, Canada, recently found himself in this seemingly impossible situation. On an episode of The Ramsey Show, he described how his marriage was on the verge of ending, but his wife wanted to stay in the house with him after the separation to raise their 18-month-old son.
Don’t miss
Anything can happen in 2024. Try these 5 easy money hacks to help you make and save thousands of dollars in the new year (they will only take seconds)
Robert Kiyosaki warns 401(k)s and IRAs will be 'toast' after the 'biggest crash in history' — protect yourself now with these shockproof assets
Commercial real estate has topped the stock market for over 25 years — but only the elite had access. Now you can super-spike your wealth even if you're just an everyday investor
Dave Ramsey was gobsmacked by the suggestion. “You know when you say out loud, ‘we’re going to get a divorce and live in the same house as roommates’, that’s just strange, weird and dumb,” he told Jake.
Although Ramsey thinks the concept of post-divorce cohabitation is “asinine” and laughable, a growing number of people are considering this option as they face a grueling housing market. Here’s why he might have missed the mark with his advice.
The cost of living crisis
Jake said his wife doesn’t have a college degree and that she would struggle to find work or a place to live if they separated. “The way the market is right now, even renting a home would be super hard for her,” he said.
For context, Jake resides in Ontario, where the housing market is exceptionally unaffordable right now. The vacancy rate for rental units across the province was just 1.8% as of October 2022, according to data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
In Toronto, Ontario’s largest city, a one-bedroom condo costs upwards of $2,521 Canadian dollars (or $1,875 USD) a month to rent, according to Rentals.ca.
Meanwhile, the average selling price for a condo in the Toronto area was $716,145 (or $533,000 USD), in the third quarter of 2023, according to TRREB.
A similar trend is playing out in the U.S., as mortgage rates rise and house prices remain beyond the reach of the average American. Even celebrities like Kevin Costner claim they are struggling to get their partners to leave after divorce.
It would appear that post-divorce cohabitation is another trend Ramsey has arguably missed, along with rising daycare costs and the lack of affordable housing.
Nevertheless, he offered Jake advice on how to navigate this tricky situation.
Read more: Don't miss out: Jeff Bezos reveals the secret to prime real estate profits — say goodbye to landlord headaches
Two solutions
Ramsey recommended Jake and his wife continue to see a marriage counselor to help them deal with their issues. An attempt to make the marriage work could be best for them. “If you guys staying in the same house involves healing your marriage, I’m all for it,” Ramsey told Jake.
However, if that fails, he strongly recommended they sell the house and move into individual apartments.
Jake’s son, Ramsey said, “does not need to be raised by divorced parents living in the same house together. That’s so freaking weird and psychologically damaging to your son. No!”
Researchers have looked into the impacts of marital conflict on children’s development. A study from the University of Massachusetts found “destructive conflict resolution styles,” such as hostility and marital withdrawal, negatively affect children’s emotional well-being, leading to anger, worry and sadness.
Another study from the Arabian Gulf University found that children who grow up in high-conflict families might have issues with self-esteem, trust, managing emotions and maintaining relationships.
What to read next
A Pennsylvania trio bought a $100K abandoned school and turned it into a 31-unit apartment — but here's a much simpler way to earn real estate riches without a mountain of red tape
Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year — but you can be smarter than that. Here’s how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free)
Even your credit card interest is accumulating interest as you read this — stop this 'bad compounding' today by paying off your card fast and saving thousands in interest. Here's how
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
