There are many factors which go into the decision to keep the family home including the ability to pay the mortgage, property taxes, and insurance; whether the children will be comfortable in another home and a potentially different school district; whether there are offsetting assets for the out spouse; the potential loss of the out spouse's $250,000 capital gain exclusion when the home is eventually sold; and the ability of the spouse who retains the home to refinance the mortgage, if necessary. The family's entire financial picture needs to be analyzed to see if it is in anyone's best financial interest to retain the family home.