Preserving Homeownership: Foreclosure Prevention Initiatives. CRS Report for Congress

摘要

The foreclosure rate in the United States has been rising rapidly since the middle of 2006. Losing a home to foreclosure can hurt homeowners in many ways; for example, homeowners who have been through a foreclosure may have difficulty finding a new place to live or obtaining a loan in the future. Furthermore, concentrated foreclosures can drag down nearby home prices, and large numbers of abandoned properties can negatively affect communities. Finally, the increase in foreclosures may destabilize the housing market, which could in turn negatively impact the economy as a whole. Because of the many negative consequences associated with rising foreclosure rates, there is a broad consensus that the government should explore efforts to prevent further increases in foreclosures and help more families preserve homeownership. Several federal, state, and local foreclosure prevention initiatives have been launched to date.