Banks' problems still have their foundations in bricks and mortar. And as unemployment rises, housing ills are taking a new turn. US foreclosures in the first half of 2009 totalled 1.5m – in line with forecasts, in spite of widespread moratoria early this year and much-trumpeted loan modification programmes. In fact, with June becoming the fourth consecutive month with more than 300,000 properties receiving notices of foreclosure – a first – the American housing market may again be deteriorating.
银行问题的根源仍然在于砖头和水泥。随着失业率不断攀升,住宅市场的困境出现了新的变化。尽管今年年初当局大面积叫停抵押收回,并且出台了声势浩大的贷款条款修改计划,2009年上半年美国丧失住房抵押品赎回权案例仍高达150万起,与预期相符。事实上,随着6月份连续第四个月逾30万所房产收到丧失赎回权通知——这种现象是首次出现——美国住宅市场状况可能正在再度恶化。