23 percent Of Americans Trust The Nation's Financial System

The researchers found that the number of homeowners willing to default when the value of a mortgage exceeds the value of their house, even if they can afford to pay their mortgage, dramatically increased compared to just a year ago. The percentage of foreclosures that were perceived to be strategic was 31 percent in March 2010, compared to 22 percent in March 2009. One likely reason for this growing trend is the increasing perception that lenders are not pursuing borrowers who walk away.