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How One Woman's Home, and Dream, Foreclosed

One woman's story helps us understand today's financial mess

By Laurel Jorgensen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 26, 2008 6:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – When a California woman bought a home 3 years ago, she had little idea that her mortgage would help drag down the nation's economy—and the world's, the Sacramento Bee reports. Erin O'Hagan and two family members pooled incomes to buy a $475,000 Sacramento home, and planned to refinance before their adjustable rate rose to 12.75%. "The first year was the best," she said.

Her bank, Fremont Investment & Loan, also benefited by selling her loan into a mortgage-backed security. A year later, O’Hagan faced financial woes, home values had sunk, and the security backing her loan was assessed as "credit watch negative." This year, the home foreclosed—and Fremont filed for bankruptcy. O'Hagan still fights tears talking about it. "You see how close this still is to the surface," she said.

A sign stands outside  home on the market in central Denver on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007.
A sign stands outside home on the market in central Denver on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007.   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Erin O'Hagan bought her dream home in Sacramento in 2005, but job woes, medical problems, and the US mortgage crisis forced her into foreclosure early this year.
Erin O'Hagan bought her dream home in Sacramento in 2005, but job woes, medical problems, and the US mortgage crisis forced her into foreclosure early this year.   (Index)
Graphic shows total foreclosure filings from September 2007 to September 2008.
Graphic shows total foreclosure filings from September 2007 to September 2008.   (AP Graphic)
A home in foreclosure is seen in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008.
A home in foreclosure is seen in Pasadena, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
A home is advertised for sale at a foreclosure auction in Pasadena, Calif. in this Aug. 14, 2007 file photo.
A home is advertised for sale at a foreclosure auction in Pasadena, Calif. in this Aug. 14, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
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