My wife and I are splitting up, mosty amicably (for now), and were discussing what to do with our house, in which we have a fair amount of equity.

Her notion was that I would move out but retain my half-ownership. This doesn't seem like a good deal to me, because it's unrealized equity if she never wants to sell, and not living in my house essentially removes any benefit I that would derive from not selling.

I proposed the she buy my half of the house so that I can reinvest my share in a new place to live, or that we simply sell and both move into smaller places (one of our kids has moved out, another is a year or two away from doing the same).

The problem is that basically, she cannot afford to buy my half of the house, and I can't afford to buy something new without selling the house. We live in a competitive real estate market so we should make a nice sum from selling followed by the tough prospect of both finding something affordable relatively close to each other and where we work.

Has anyone come up with creative solutions to divvying up a home in a "friendly" divorce?