A settlement has been reached between state attorneys general and five major banks, but the problems of the housing market in the U.S. are far from over.

Today's $26 billion settlement between the government and five of the nation's biggest banks could free up the billions in mortgage securities they possess. But the settlement will also change many of the ways banks deal with foreclosures.

Monday is the deadline for states to sign onto a settlement with the nation's largest banks over abusive foreclosure practices. The deal would reportedly force banks to pay billions of dollars to people who lost their homes.