Quote from Scataphagos:
Years ago we never had these kinds of mortgage problems. But then, a home loan required (a) 20% down payment (or PMI... Private Mortgage Insurance.. until the equity reached 20% of the loan), (b) mortgage loan couldn't exceed a certain percentage of income, and (c) the loans were underwritten to assess that there was a high probability that the loan would be repaid. And it was customary for the lender to retain the loan for a few years or more.
If we go back to the prior standards and require that lenders hold the loans they make for 3 or 5 years, 99% of all this BS stops in a heart beat.
Or, the loans could be made "non-recourse" with 30-50% down. And for those who don't have the down payment, PMI for the difference. (You can be sure the insurance company would underwrite the insurance risk for the loan.) Same effect. No more phony-balony.