mortgages
Many Americans have lost their homes because they have not been able to keep up with payments on their mortgages. Our recent financial crisis was in part generated by the proliferation of sub-prime mortgages that eventually became worthless when people were no longer afford their monthly payments. The high rate of unemployment has also made it difficult for Americans to keep up with their loans, and as a result foreclosure rates are at record levels. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, though as the rates of foreclosure have leveled off in recent months.