Journal Article
Underwater mortgages
Abstract: House prices have fallen approximately 30% from their peak in 2006, accompanied by a level of defaults and foreclosures without precedent in the post-World War II era. Many homeowners have mortgages with principal amounts higher than the market value of their properties. In general, though, the rational default point is below the \\"underwater\\" point where house price equals the remaining loan balance, and depends on prospects for future house price appreciation and borrower default costs.
Keywords: Housing - Prices; Housing - Finance; Mortgages;
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Bibliographic Information
Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Part of Series: FRBSF Economic Letter
Publication Date: 2010
Order Number: 31