Real Estate, Underwater | featured news

The number of underwater homeowners in the Washington area decreased again in the last quarter of 2012, continuing a trend that has brought relief to thousands of borrowers.

Record-low interest rates are out of reach for many homeowners, and a big reason is that millions are underwater. Obama and others are trying to assist them. U.S. interest rates are at rock-bottom levels, but that's not helping most Americans with mortgages.

With millions of homeowners still underwater, some local governments are considering a novel solution: condemning their mortgages through the power of eminent domain. “Federal programs have not been very successful at all, and the private programs have been of limited help,” said Gregory Devereaux, administrator for San Bernardino County, explaining the government's decision to consider eminent domain, a plan the mortgage industry considers the equivalent of the nuclear option. The hard-hit county's board of supervisors is expected to meet Thursday to consider proposals to help homeowners, including the possible use of eminent domain.