The current housing crisis makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for people who are underwater in their mortgages to relocate, while not completely destroying their own credibility, piece of mind and financial future.
Sometimes people can no longer afford their homes. Other times people want to move across town to be closer to family and friends or work. Some may have changing housing needs and want to downsize or move into something more comfortable.
Most Americans cannot bring tens of thousands of dollars to the table when selling their homes to avoid financial ruin. In instances where short sales are an option, homeowners, tax payers, US citizens, are at the mercy of huge mortgage companies, with their own interests in mind, to determine if a short sale "works for them".