Refinance boom brings increase in foreclosures

From 1993 to 2001 refinancings shot up 35%, while from 2000 to 2003 foreclosures climbed 45%. Many economists suggest that with volatile real estate and money markets, pinning your financial future on your house isn't much different than taking a spin at the local casino. And the high stakes don't stop with loans. A recent study by October Research reported that 55% of appraisers often felt 'uncomfortably pressured' to overstate property values. Of those, 46% said they were asked to inflate the value of the subject property by 11% to 30%.