Some banks offer extra incentive to short sell homes

Feb 8, 2012
Bloomberg News reports a case of a J.P. Morgan Chase letter to a homeowner that said "you could sell your home, owe nothing more on the mortgage, and get $30,000."

11 million homeowners underwater

Feb 1, 2012
Over a quarter of Americans owe more than their homes are worth, but does the U.S. government have the political will to help?

Getting Personal: Underwater - should you swim away?

Jan 13, 2012
L.A. Times consumer columnist David Lazarus joins Tess to answer questions about debt mediation services and how to cope with the bank when your home is underwater.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images