What Causes Borrowers to Walk Away?

While borrowers with “super prime” credit scores accounted for just 5 percent of the mortgage delinquencies, about 28 percent of their defaults were calculated and strategic.


This relatively small actual number is nevertheless causing the credit industry to look at new ways to evaluate walk-away risk even among the very creditworthy.

Credit bureau Experian reports that borrowers in California, Florida, and other hard-hit states are more likely to walk away than people living in states with more stable markets. Also, residents of states where lenders have no recourse are more likely to toss in the towel.

People with small amounts of negative equity also are more likely to stay and pay.

Source: Washington Post (07/03/2010)