Explains how we got into the current economic disaster that developed out of the economics and politics of the housing boom and bust. The "creative" financing of home mortgages and "creative" marketing of financial securities based on these mortgages to countries around the world, are part of the story of how a financial house of cards was built up--and then collapsed.

"The American housing bubble of the 2000s caused the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression. In this definitive account, Adam Levitin and Susan Wachter pinpoint its source: the shift in mortgage financing from securitization by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to "private-label securitization" by Wall Street banks. This change set off a race to the bottom in mortgage underwriting standards, as banks competed in laxity to gain market share....

"Underwater is a fresh perspective on the financial crisis that shows how it is still reverberating more than a decade later, casting doubt on the notion that homeownership is crucial to the American dream and inspiring a massive bet by the country's richest real-estate investors that it's not. In a dispassionate, yet deeply personal story that zips between Wall Street and Main Street-or, to be more precise, Audubon Drive in Alabama-Ryan Dezember...

Explores the origins of the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1980s and draws parallels with the financial crisis of 2008, arguing that the failure to regulate banks combined with the laxness of regulators contributed to the crises and are problems that still persist today.

Getting ready to navigate the ever-changing housing market? Tyson and Brown have packed this guide with tips for getting the best deal on your new home. They show you how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the late lending requirements and tax implications.