If you have to go through the misery of a divorce, now is as good a time as any to proceed. Plunging home prices and the struggling economy have a way of making financial separations less painful, with some caveats.

MSN Money explains that the falling real estate market can make it less cost-prohibitive for one party to stay in the house while the other gets a financial settlement.

On the other hand, divorces can damage credit scores, with a tight credit market making it especially tough to buy homes or cars while on the rebound. The post recommends couples who have the luxury of putting off their divorces for a while do so as they increase their credit scores.

The best time (financially) to divorce [MSN Money]

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